A packed-to-the-gills Target Center lit up (you can take that in multiple ways) for a rubber match game three between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers. Not only were the Wolves coming off a season-low 85 points in game two, but they had to rebound early from scoring seven points in the first seven minutes, and end their early game offensive struggles, something Mike Conley vowed they would do in practice during the week.

Mike Conley is confident the Wolves will bring good energy tomorrow. Why?

“If you’ve ever been in a film session, man, with Finchy after a loss — we’ll be motivated. We’ll be motivated and ready to go. I have no doubt that our guys will be ready.”

— Jace frederick (@JaceFrederick) April 24, 2025

First Half

Is Conley Nostradamus? Perhaps. The Wolves couldn’t have asked for a better start out of the gate, given the shooting struggles that previously plagued them (5-25 from three in game two). After an 8-7 scoreboard out of the gate, a momentous challenge for the Wolves in an out of bounds call off of Rui Hachimura was overturned.

In a stoppage of play that would typically give anyone pause who wants Wolves’ offense to keep flowing, the Wolves kept pouring it on. Even with a 2-6 first quarter from Anthony Edwards, and a hot start from Jaden McDaniels on both ends of the floor (4-5 from the field and the primary defender on a 1-6 Luka Doncic), opening up the game with a 32-26 start.

Jaden McDaniels is 4-5 from the field and has held Luka Doncic to 1-6 in the first quarter.

Is that good?

— Canis Hoopus (@canishoopus) April 26, 2025

Unfortunately, it was a tale of two quarters. The Wolves would open up the next frame ice cold from the field with an inverse performance from LA. Similarly to the opening quarter of game two, Minnesota scored just seven points in the opening six minutes and loosened up defensive containment, allowing the Lakers to creep back into it.

A certain expletive-laced adjective to describe LeBron James’ pull-up threes is the ideal way to portray two consecutive 25-footers, and the Lakers would gain a 43-39 lead with 5:38 left in the quarter. At the end of the half, what started out as a hot shooting night quickly turned into a 23 percent half from the field and 42 percent from the field, LA besting both.

At that point, the Wolves would have to make a choice with Laker energy infused back into the game on a bad Luka shooting night to start. Can you capitalize or can’t you?

Second Half

A Jaden McDaniels-led charge out of the gate to stay true to his first-half performance parlayed into a continued strange Anthony Edwards statline. Ant, struggling continually at finishing layups, bucked the efficiency trend from behind the 3-point line (Edwards was 50 percent from three at the end of the third quarter).

The good news is he was still able to find high percentage looks inside despite a tough night finishing at the rim.

It was the stretch run that ended up deciding the game. A fortuitous Mike Conley banked-in jump-shot widened the lead to five points with nine minutes left, and set the Wolves up with a ripe opportunity to close the game out, even with the Lakers shooting 46 percent from three.

But it was a workmanlike clutch time closeout, led by number five. Was that there during the season? Maybe not, but it showed up at the right time.

This story will be updated throughout the night after coach and player media availabilities.

Up Next

After having two days off following both Games 1 and 2, the series tempo kicks into gear as the Wolves and Lakers face off for a Game 4 matinee on Sunday at 2:30 PM CT. Fans can watch the national broadcast airing on ABC.