Timberwolves’ Unexpected Playbook: What Shifted the Series Against the Warriors in Game 3?

There’s something intoxicating about playoff basketball—especially when the underdog bites back hard. Take Saturday night at Chase Center, where the Minnesota Timberwolves scrapped and clawed their way to a gritty 102-97 victory over the Golden State Warriors, snagging a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. You can almost feel the tension, thickening the air since Stephen Curry’s sidelined until at least Game 6, leaving the Warriors scrambling without their MVP maestro. The stakes? Nothing short of a do-or-die scenario for Golden State as they head into Game 4. It’s a classic tale of momentum swings, heroic efforts, and high-wire pressure—the kind of drama that sticks with you long after the final buzzer. Let’s unpack the pivotal moments, game-changers, and what lies ahead for both squads as this series heats up. LEARN MORE

While Randle’s triple-double underpinned Minnesota’s turnaround, Edwards stole the show. After scoring a modest eight points in the first half on 3-of-12 shooting, Edwards cranked his game into hyperdrive, finishing with 36 points (13 of 28 FG, 5 of 14 3PT, 5 of 8 FT) with 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 block in 44 minutes.Here are the biggest takeaways from Saturday night’s clash:

Point Julius takes over with a triple-double

“He was incredible, man,” Edwards said. “Finding everybody on cuts. Finding the open guy, time after time. Just pushing the pace. That’s what we asked of him, and he’s been doing that at a high level.”Randle was masterful, posting his first career postseason triple-double, finishing with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. He’s the first Timberwolves player since Kevin Garnett to notch a triple-double in the playoffs, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Randle was masterful, posting his first career postseason triple-double, finishing with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. He’s the first Timberwolves player since Kevin Garnett to notch a triple-double in the playoffs, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Randle was masterful, posting his first career postseason triple-double, finishing with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. He’s the first Timberwolves player since Kevin Garnett to notch a triple-double in the playoffs, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Randle was masterful, posting his first career postseason triple-double, finishing with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. He’s the first Timberwolves player since Kevin Garnett to notch a triple-double in the playoffs, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

• Randle was masterful, posting his first career postseason triple-double, finishing with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. He’s the first Timberwolves player since Kevin Garnett to notch a triple-double in the playoffs, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

  Randle was masterful, posting his first career postseason triple-double, finishing with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. He’s the first Timberwolves player since Kevin Garnett to notch a triple-double in the playoffs, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

  Randle was masterful, posting his first career postseason triple-double, finishing with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. He’s the first Timberwolves player since Kevin Garnett to notch a triple-double in the playoffs, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

  Mike Conley joined Randle and Edwards at the post-game news conference, and though his numbers don’t jump off the page, his late-game defense and poise in the fourth was the veteran leadership the Wolves needed in this rock fight.SAN FRANCISCO — The Timberwolves claimed a scrappy 102-97 win over the Warriors in Game 3 at Chase Center on Saturday, seizing a 2-1 advantage in the Western Conference semifinals. With Game 4 looming Monday in San Francisco, and Stephen Curry reportedly unavailable until at least Game 6, the Warriors now find themselves in a must-win situation.