Saturday’s Sport 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 might put them in a virtually unimaginable 3-0 gap and would basically doom their probabilities of transferring on.
Chatting with the press, Rudy Gobert didn’t downplay the significance of the sport, however he mentioned his Timberwolves are trying to remain within the second and never concentrate on the implications of falling right into a 3-0 deficit.
“That’s not useful,” Gobert mentioned, per Dave McMenamin. “Should you’re on the battlefield and also you’re anxious concerning the final result, you’ll get shot in your head.”
Rudy Gobert on the Wolves needing to remain within the second vs. contemplating the implications of falling down 3-0 to OKC: “That’s not useful … Should you’re on the battlefield and also you’re anxious concerning the final result, you’ll get shot in your head.” pic.twitter.com/DjDlrl1bfV
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) Could 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 foul place, and, sure, one other loss would price them dearly and will mainly finish their season.
However Minnesota isn’t making an attempt to assume like that.
As an alternative, they’re simply specializing in the subsequent 48 minutes of basketball and making an attempt to win this recreation, after which they’ll fear about what’s subsequent after that.
After a protracted and laborious sequence in opposition to the Denver Nuggets, the Thunder are as soon as once more trying like the very best staff within the West and frontrunners for the championship.
They aren’t going simple on the Timberwolves and are seemingly getting higher.
Their Sport 2 victory was a cushty one, and so they appeared fully in management.
Over the past a number of days, the Timberwolves have watched footage of that recreation, tweaked their plans, and headed again house.
Now Sport 3 might be in entrance of their very own followers, and they’re hoping they may give them one thing to cheer about.
The stakes couldn’t be greater, however Gobert and his staff are trying to remain centered, centered, and fully within the current.
NEXT: Jaden McDaniels Will get Trustworthy About His Flagrant Foul In Sport 2
