Anthony Edwards led the charge with 36 points and nine rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves secured a historic 126-109 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night, taking a 3-0 lead in their playoff series for the first time in franchise history. The Timberwolves now aim to complete the sweep in Game 4 on Sunday night in Phoenix.
Rudy Gobert contributed 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points and 13 boards to power the third-seeded Timberwolves. Nickeil Alexander-Walker provided a crucial spark with 16 points, including 12 in the pivotal third quarter, where the Timberwolves outscored the Suns 36-20 to seize control of the game.
Reflecting on the opportunity to close out the series, Edwards expressed his determination: “I’ve never been here so I don’t know. I can’t speak about how tough it is. I just come out here and play my game and have my guys be ready to win. I don’t know how tough it is. I haven’t won a series yet. I’ve been sent home twice, so I’m thirsty to get it.”
Head coach Chris Finch emphasized the team’s focus on the present: “I don’t care what happened beforehand. The reality is we have a lot of guys who like playing together and they play the right way. They let me coach them hard and it’s been fun. That’s the foundation of being able to grow this little by little.”
Despite the Suns’ efforts, led by Bradley Beal’s 28 points and strong contributions from Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, Phoenix struggled to contain Minnesota’s balanced attack. The Suns, facing a 3-0 deficit, are aware of the challenge ahead, with no team in NBA history having overcome such a deficit in a playoff series.
Looking ahead to Game 4, the Timberwolves aim to make franchise history with a sweep, while the Suns seek to stave off elimination and mount an improbable comeback.
This recap encapsulates the pivotal moments and standout performances from the Timberwolves’ victory, highlighting their commanding lead in the playoff series. If you have specific details or aspects you’d like emphasized differently, feel free to let me know!
