Saturday’s Recreation 3 in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder is a must-win for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Whereas a loss wouldn’t get rid of them from the playoffs, it will put them in an almost unattainable 3-0 gap and would basically doom their possibilities of shifting on.
Chatting with the press, Rudy Gobert didn’t downplay the significance of the sport, however he stated his Timberwolves try to remain within the second and never deal with the results of falling right into a 3-0 deficit.
“That’s not useful,” Gobert stated, per Dave McMenamin. “In case you’re on the battlefield and also you’re frightened in regards to the final result, you’ll get shot in your head.”
Rudy Gobert on the Wolves needing to remain within the second vs. contemplating the results of falling down 3-0 to OKC: “That’s not useful … In case you’re on the battlefield and also you’re frightened in regards to the final result, you’ll get shot in your head.” pic.twitter.com/DjDlrl1bfV
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) Might 24, 2025
This can be a thought course of that many stars have at this level within the playoffs.
Sure, the Timberwolves are in a nasty place, and, sure, one other loss would value them dearly and will mainly finish their season.
However Minnesota isn’t making an attempt to assume like that.
As a substitute, they’re simply specializing in the subsequent 48 minutes of basketball and making an attempt to win this sport, after which they’ll fear about what’s subsequent after that.
After an extended and laborious sequence in opposition to the Denver Nuggets, the Thunder are as soon as once more wanting like the very best crew within the West and frontrunners for the championship.
They aren’t going simple on the Timberwolves and are seemingly getting higher.
Their Recreation 2 victory was a cushty one, and so they regarded fully in management.
During the last a number of days, the Timberwolves have watched footage of that sport, tweaked their plans, and headed again residence.
Now Recreation 3 can be in entrance of their very own followers, and they’re hoping they can provide them one thing to cheer about.
The stakes couldn’t be larger, however Gobert and his crew try to remain centered, centered, and fully within the current.
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