Five takeaways from Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals

The Timberwolves went on a 9-0 run in the second quarter, followed by an 8-0 run. When the Thunder cut the lead to 22 points in the third quarter, Minnesota went on a 12-0 run and the game was effectively over.

2. The Timberwolves' role players were much better at home

It's a cliche that role players are better at home than on the road in the playoffs, but sometimes cliches are true. The Timberwolves' three primary reserves — Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo and Nickeil Alexander-Walker — shot 18-of-60 and 10-of-43 from three-point range. The trio was a combined -94 in the first two games of the series. Saturday, they were 11-of-17 and shot 6-of-9 on threes.

The real Game 2 revelation was rookie Terrence Shannon Jr., who came in during the second quarter and scored nine points. He finished with 15 points off the bench, easily a record for a Timberwolves rookie coming off the bench.

For a team that was desperate for bench scoring, the 24-year-old rookie was an excellent find in Game 3. Did he earn more minutes, and can he keep it up in Game 4?

3. Anthony Edwards reminded the NBA that he's a superstar

Anthony Edwards was named to the All-NBA second team Friday. That's impressive for a 23-year-old, but perhaps below Edwards' own lofty expectations for himself. In Game 3, he exploded for 30 points in 30 minutes, nine rebounds, six assists and two steals, with 16 points coming in the Timberwolves' dominant, 34-14 first quarter.

Edwards has always been able to get to the basket and score near the basket, but when his three-point shot is also falling, he's virtually impossible to guard, even by the Thunder's elite defense. He went 5-of-8 from deep, hitting three triples in the first quarter as his team threw a haymaker at the Thunder.

The Thunder have a great team and their own superstar in MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Wolves need Edwards to play like an All-NBA first-teamer if they want to get to the NBA Finals.

4. Oklahoma City's three-point shooting has been bad in these playoffs

It hasn't been an issue in many playoff games, mainly because the Thunder have shot 55 percent on two-pointers and led for most of the playoffs, but their three-point shooting hasn't been good. Before Saturday, they were shooting 32.5 percent from behind the arc, and that continued with a 14-of-44 performance in Game 3.

In the first half, they were 6-for-23 from behind the arc, with Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren both going 1-for-4. Holmgren is shooting 31.3 percent on threes and SGA is at 29 percent. Lu Dort is at 29 percent, Jalen Williams is at 27.8 percent and Isaiah Hartenstein hasn't attempted a three-pointer. That means the Thunder's starting lineup is making only 29.3 percent of their threes.

When the Thunder's defense is shutting the Timberwolves down, their outside shooting doesn't hurt them. But when they fall behind, their inability to score from distance makes comebacks a tall order.

5. Julius Randle bounced back

Julius Randle scored 20 points in the first half of Game 1 and made five three-pointers. He followed that up by scoring 14 points in the next three halves and made zero threes, slowed by the Thunder's defense and his own team's inability to get him the ball. Saturday, it was a different story.

Randle scored 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting and made two three-pointers and finished Game 3 with a game-high plus/minus of +38 in his 30 minutes. After the game, Edwards talked to reporters about Randle, telling them, "He wanted his respect back and he got it."

Now he's also got a crucial home win to cut the Thunder's lead to 2-1.