Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sheds tears in her MVP speech
NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s acceptance speech changes emotionally in honor of his wife
The 2025 NBA Western Conference Finals feature the Oklahoma City Thunder traveling to Target Center to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night. The Thunder leads the series 2-0.
The Thunder defeated Timberwolves 118-103 in Game 2 in Oklahoma City. NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 points, while Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren scored a total of 28 points.
Thunder’s defense was impressive in Game 2. Lu Dort, who received all the defensive honors of his first team, led the charges along with Williams, who won the full defense of his second team earlier in the day. Their efforts combined helped limit the Timberwolves to a shooting rate of just 41%, helping to secure a victory.
As the series moves to Minneapolis, the Timberwolves desperately need a victory to avoid a 3-0 deficit. Here’s how to catch all the actions in Game 3:
Timberwolves starter
- Jaden McDaniels
- Julius Randle
- Rudy Gobert
- Anthony Edwards
- Mike Conley
Thunder Starter
- Jalen Williams
- Chet Holmgren
- Isaiah Hertenstein
- lu sleeps
- Shy Gilgaus Alexander
Minnesota loses Game 3 and can’t afford to go to the 3-0 hole. Thunder coach Mark Deigno said his team needs to be ready for what the Timberwolves bring when the series shifts to Minneapolis for 3-4.
“We understand that Minnesota is back at 0-2 and we’re going to get a haymaker from them, and we have to stand up on it,” Daigneault said.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said his team is confident and needs to make shots.
“We’re at utmost confidence,” Finch said about two hours before Game 3. “We need to figure out what adjustments we need to make. Just try to stay on even keels. Everyone is trying to do that. They’re not making shots.
“We had to make some stronger. We’ve now focused and emphasized a lot of things that we’ve done well, bringing urgency to what we need tonight. That’s what our approach was.”
Finch said it’s important to avoid the “five minute meltdown” that the Timberwolves thwarted his team in the first two games.
Game 3 of the NBA’s Western Conference Finals Series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder will close the hint on Saturday at 8:30pm.
How to watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: TV, Stream
- time: 8:30pm
- position: Target Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
- tv set: ABC
- stream: ESPN+, Fubo
Oklahoman: Minnesota 110, OKC 108
Justin Martinez wrote: “It’s hard to win a match in Oklahoma City. All mistakes will be magnified by the crowd at the Electric Paycom Center, and the energy will burn some huge OKC runs.
ESPN: Thunder has a 67% chance to win
According to ESPN’s matchup predictors, the Oklahoma City Thunder has a 67.1% chance of winning Game 3 against the Minnesota Timber Wolves.
Pickswise: Timberwolves
The staff wrote: “What really killed Minnesota is how badly the wolves were crushed in terms of turnover disparities, especially in those disastrous third quarters. So if Anthony Edwards and the company can minimize those live ball mistakes, it should take a lot of chances to win Oklahoma City, as Oklahoma City breaks and easily appears at Mininesaw, home.”
According to BETMGM, the Oklahoma City Thunder prefers to win Game 3.
As of Saturday, May 2nd4.
- Spread it: Thunder (-4.5)
- Money Line: Thunder (-150), Timberwolves (+130)
- Over/Under:218.5
