Minnesota Timberwolves set playoff franchise record in big win over Oklahoma City Thunder to cut West finals deficit to 2-1
Anthony Edwards led the scoring with 30 points, nine rebounds and six assists in 30 minutes, on a night when six other Wolves players racked up double figures in points.
'It's about just bringing the energy with a team like this,' said the three-time All-Star after the game. 'OKC play with a ton of energy, no matter what, first or fourth quarter. So just trying to exceed their energy, or match it, at least. That was the most important thing today and I think we did that.'
Also crucial to the win were Julius Randle, who scored 24, and rookie Terrence Shannon Jr., who impressed with 15 points in just 13 minutes.
'Huge,' said Randle when asked about Shannon's performance. 'We knew that we would need him this series, and coach obviously has a lot of trust in him. So, for him to be ready for his moment and come in and give us the lift he did – he brought a lot of energy to the game, intensity – he was just a huge boost for our team today.'
Such was the contribution of the likes of Shannon that Minnesota's bench actually outscored the Thunder's starters 66-49 on the night.
After two defeats in Oklahoma, the Wolves clearly relished returning to Target Center, where they have lost just one of their last 11 games. Up by 34 in the third quarter, Randle could be seen shouting the words 'We home now!' repeatedly in the direction of the Minnesota crowd.
By that point, the contest had been over for some time. Oklahoma City has the best defense in the NBA, but found itself down quickly when a 12-0 run in the first quarter put the Wolves up 25-9.
By the end of the quarter it was 34-14, and from early in the second quarter onward, the Thunder never got within 22 points of the home team.
After scoring 69 points across the first two games of the series, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named NBA MVP earlier this week, could only manage 14 points on 4-for-13 shooting.
With 4:25 remaining in the third quarter and the Thunder down by 38, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault conceded and subbed out his star man – much to the delight of the home crowd, which had booed him incessantly throughout.
'We just didn't bring it from an energy and focus standpoint,' Gilgeous-Alexander admitted afterward. 'They just came out with a sense of urgency and we didn't.'
The Wolves will be hoping to make home advantage count again and tie the series when the teams meet in Game 4 on Monday night.
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Yahoo
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This L.A. company builds venues for the world's biggest pop stars, sports teams and sumo wrestlers
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The popular venues have now hosted 22 Grammy Awards shows, a Democratic National Convention, two Stanley Cup championships, six NBA championships and All-Star hockey and basketball weekends. That high-profile success gave it an edge when competing to build or buy around the world. AEG has expanded to own and operate more than 100 venues serving 100 million guests annually. Among its holdings are the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team and German pro ice hockey team Eisbären Berlin. As the second biggest event promoter in the world, it puts on large festivals including the annual Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and American Express Presents BST Hyde Park music festival in London. It has faced slowdowns and other tough periods as well. Its London arena was the site of Michael Jackson's planned comeback announced in 2009. During a period when he was rehearsing for the physically demanding shows, Jackson died. His mother and three children sued AEG Live in 2010. 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Yahoo
11 minutes ago
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A historic win by 45-year-old Venus Williams resonates and shows there are no limits for excellence
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CNN
13 minutes ago
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Venus Williams, 45, becomes oldest player to win WTA singles match in more than 20 years
Venus Williams rolled back the years to produce a brilliant display as she eliminated fellow American Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-4 to reach the round of 16 of the DC Open. Williams, 45, becomes the oldest player to win a singles match on the WTA Tour since Martina Navratilova won in the first round of Wimbledon in 2004 aged 47. It was Williams' second tour victory in as many days after she recorded a doubles win at the DC Open alongside Hailey Baptiste on Monday. 'You know, it's the first step, and the first match is always extremely difficult,' Williams said after the match, per the WTA. 'It's hard to describe how difficult it is to play a first match after so much time off. 'So going into the match, I know I have the ability to win, but it's all about actually winning. So this is the best result, to play a good match and win. 'I'm here with my friends, family, people I love, and the fans too, who I love and they love me, so this has been just a beautiful night.' It was an impressive display from Williams against world No. 35 Stearns, fighting back from a break to love in her opening service game and again effectively using her aggressive serving and returning as a weapon. Tuesday's win was Williams' first singles match on tour since an opening-round defeat to Diana Shnaider at the Miami Open in March 2024, while her last victory came in 2023 against Veronika Kudermetova in the opening round of the Cincinnati Open. Monday was also Williams' first doubles match in almost three years, and until this week she had been listed as 'unactive' on the WTA Tour. Over the course of her career, the American former world No. 1 won seven grand slam singles titles and 14 in doubles alongside younger sister Serena – as well as two mixed doubles grand slam titles in 1998. 'There are no limits for excellence,' Williams said. 'It's all about what's in your head and how much you're able to put into it. If you put in the work mentally, physically and emotionally, then you can have the result. 'It doesn't matter how many times you fall down. Doesn't matter how many times you get sick or get hurt or whatever it is. If you continue to believe and put in the work, there is an opportunity, there is space for you.' Williams faces a tough test in Poland's world No. 24 Magdalena Fręch in the next round on Thursday, while her next doubles match with Baptiste is scheduled for Wednesday against fellow American Taylor Townsend and China's Zhang Shuai. Following the match, Williams also spoke about her recent engagement to Italian actor Andrea Preti, who was in attendance to watch her play for the first time. 'My fiancé is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing,' Williams said. 'There were so many times where I just wanted to coast and kind of chill. 'Do you know how hard it is to play tennis? You guys don't know how much work goes into this, like it's 9 to 5 except you're running the whole time. Lifting weights and just like dying and then you repeat it the next day. 'So he encouraged me to get through this and it's wonderful to be here. He's never seen me play.'
