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The Minnesota Timberwolves came into Game 3 of their Western Conference Semifinal series of the NBA Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets looking like arguably the best team in the league. To that point, they were the only team that had not lost a game in the playoffs. They swept the Phoenix Suns in dominating fashion then snatched both games on the Nuggets home floor to start this series.
But the defending champions showed that they still had some fight left in them. While many pundits and fans wrote them off following Game 2, the Nuggets came out on the Timberwolves home court and dominated from start to finish in Game 3. The Nuggets got strong performances from their star duo in Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Jokic finished with a near triple double of 24 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists. Murray added 24 points of his own, four rebounds, five assists and three steals.
While the Timberwolves still have control of the series by virtue of their 2-1 lead, things could get a little interesting depending on what happens in Game 4. In fact, Game 4 could be considered a must win game according to former NBA player and current TNT analysts Charles Barkley. Barkley argued that if the Wolves drop Game 4, they’re going to lose the series.
“But I will say this, they lose this game tonight, they’re in trouble,” Barkley said. “They had the champs on a standing eight. If they don’t win this game tonight, the champs are gonna have their confidence back. Obviously they’re gonna get the homecourt back, this game to me is a must win for the Wolves tonight. . .they’ve never been here before, they’re fans ain’t been here in a long time since KG and everything. But their best player is still like 20-something years old, and he can’t let down.”
Timberwolves need big game from Anthony Edwards to beat Nuggets in Game 4
During the Timberwolves first six games of the NBA Playoffs, the talk of the team was Anthony Edwards and how he had arrived. The Wolves young star was dominating on the court and getting comparisons to Michael Jordan. Fresh off his second consecutive All-Star appearance, Edwards was looking like the best shooting guard in the league.
It’s not like Edwards’ overall numbers were bad in Game 3. He finished with 19 points on 8-15 shooting from the field, 3-8 from the three point line to go along with six rebounds and five assists. But he did not have the same impact and did not get off to a great start.
Through the playoffs so far, Edwards has been averaging 30.4 points per game, 6.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.6 steals with splits of 54.5 percent shooting from the field, 41.2 percent shooting from the three point line and 81.8 percent shooting from the free throw line.
As of publication, things were looking so good for the Timberwolves as they trailed the Nuggets by double digits in the second quarter of Game 4. Edwards was off to a good start though with 13 points on 5-7 shooting from the field. But the Wolves have a hole to dig themselves out of in the second half.
More must-reads:
- Seven reasons we must never forget Bill Walton
- Bill Walton was a great and unique player
- The 'Most three-pointers made in the playoffs' quiz
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