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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michael Harris II's sliding catch
Paige Bueckers: 'Always good to be back home' [RAW] Minnesota native and former Hopkins star Paige Bueckers is back in Minneapolis as the Lynx host the Dallas Wings Wednesday night for their 2025 home opener. It'll be the first time Bueckers plays at Target Center as a professional with the WNBA. 6:41 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
CNN
4 days ago
- Sport
- CNN
Minnesota Timberwolves set playoff franchise record in big win over Oklahoma City Thunder to cut West finals deficit to 2-1
The Minnesota Timberwolves set a franchise record for points scored in a playoff game on Saturday night as they routed the Oklahoma City Thunder 143-101 to cut the deficit to 2-1 in the Western Conference finals. Anthony Edwards led the scoring with 30 points, nine rebounds and six assists in 30 minutes, on a night when six other Wolves players racked up double figures in points. 'It's about just bringing the energy with a team like this,' said the three-time All-Star after the game. 'OKC play with a ton of energy, no matter what, first or fourth quarter. So just trying to exceed their energy, or match it, at least. That was the most important thing today and I think we did that.' Also crucial to the win were Julius Randle, who scored 24, and rookie Terrence Shannon Jr., who impressed with 15 points in just 13 minutes. 'Huge,' said Randle when asked about Shannon's performance. 'We knew that we would need him this series, and coach obviously has a lot of trust in him. So, for him to be ready for his moment and come in and give us the lift he did – he brought a lot of energy to the game, intensity – he was just a huge boost for our team today.' Such was the contribution of the likes of Shannon that Minnesota's bench actually outscored the Thunder's starters 66-49 on the night. After two defeats in Oklahoma, the Wolves clearly relished returning to Target Center, where they have lost just one of their last 11 games. Up by 34 in the third quarter, Randle could be seen shouting the words 'We home now!' repeatedly in the direction of the Minnesota crowd. By that point, the contest had been over for some time. Oklahoma City has the best defense in the NBA, but found itself down quickly when a 12-0 run in the first quarter put the Wolves up 25-9. By the end of the quarter it was 34-14, and from early in the second quarter onward, the Thunder never got within 22 points of the home team. After scoring 69 points across the first two games of the series, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named NBA MVP earlier this week, could only manage 14 points on 4-for-13 shooting. With 4:25 remaining in the third quarter and the Thunder down by 38, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault conceded and subbed out his star man – much to the delight of the home crowd, which had booed him incessantly throughout. 'We just didn't bring it from an energy and focus standpoint,' Gilgeous-Alexander admitted afterward. 'They just came out with a sense of urgency and we didn't.' The Wolves will be hoping to make home advantage count again and tie the series when the teams meet in Game 4 on Monday night.
New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
NBA playoffs takeaways: Timberwolves trounce Thunder in Game 3
After two double-digit losses to start the Western Conference finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves showed they have what it takes to not just challenge but completely shut down Oklahoma City, beating the Thunder 143-101 Saturday night and narrowing the series to 2-1. The Timberwolves took a 34-14 lead in the first quarter and ran away with it from there; by the third quarter, Minnesota had secured a 42-point lead. Advertisement How did that happen? Minnesota shot 57.3 percent from the field to Oklahoma City's 40.7 percent. The Timberwolves shot 50 percent from 3 to the Thunder's 31.8 percent. And Anthony Edwards scored 30 points to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 14 points, until both teams benched their starters with an eye toward Game 4 on Monday. For as much poise and control as Oklahoma City have shown during this postseason — particularly in Games 1 and 2 against Minnesota — Game 3 was the complete opposite. The Thunder sleepwalked into a fiery Target Center and aggressive Wolves defense, who used a similar approach to the Nuggets — keeping players at the boxes and elbows and rotating quickly to shore up any holes. Oklahoma City missed 11 of its first 15 shots of the game, turning the ball over five times in the first six minutes. They never recovered, trailing by as much as 45 points in the second half and finishing the evening shooting just 35 for 86 from the field and 14 for 44 from 3. Daigneault, desperate to find any sort of rhythm, went deep into his bench, having already played 10 men by the start of the second quarter. But the Thunder were simply unable to create separation for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Jalen Williams, who went a combined 7 of 22 from the field. At the other end, a locked-in Anthony Edwards took control from the opening tip, leading the way with 30 points in 30 minutes. Game 3 was always going to bring a level of desperation from a Wolves team looking to avoid a 3-0 deficit. The Thunder were unable to contain multiple waves of pressure from the game's onset, and will now look to correct things in Game 4. Oklahoma City needs to play at a faster pace in the halfcourt. Minnesota's zone is working overtime to pressure ball handlers and passing lanes, but the Thunder are doing themselves no favors by moving at half speed. In Game 3, the Wolves seemed comfortable bringing Rudy Gobert higher up to meet Oklahoma City's guards, which should traditionally be an advantageous opportunity. This team is no stranger to the Box-and-One zone, the Nuggets used it periodically during the last round and at some point, the Thunder cracked the code. They'll need to do it again — and do a much better job containing Edwards — to avoid an even series. — Kelly Iko, NBA staff writer A change in venue made all the difference for the Minnesota Timberwolves, whose 143-101 Game 3 win against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder gave the conference finals a makeover. Minnesota's win could be the difference between overcoming a 2-0 deficit or trying to pull off the postseason impossible: coming back from down 3-0. Advertisement The Timberwolves used a red-hot first quarter led by Anthony Edwards (16 points in opening frame) to hand the Thunder their worst loss of the season after Oklahoma City opened the series with a convincing 2-0 series lead. Edwards' 30 points led all scorers as Minnesota also relied on Julius Randle (24 points) and got 45 points from its reserve. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a team-high and season-low 14 points, snapping a streak of five consecutive 30-point playoff games (tied Gus Williams' 1979 streak for the longest in franchise history). SGA's nine missed shots (4-of-13 shooting) were more than double his free-throw attempts (four). He averaged 14.5 free throws in Games 1 and 2. The Timberwolves relied on an array of defenders to give the newly-crowned MVP trouble, including Terrence Shannon Jr. The rookie wing contributed 15 points in 13:12 of playing time after totals six points in his first six playoff outings (20 points). The Timberwolves' 143 points set a team single-game playoff record and breathed new life into their hopes for making the first NBA Finals run in franchise history. — James Jackson, NBA staff editor We often think most playoff adjustments have to be big ones, like switching a defensive matchup, changing the lineup or deploying a new pick-and-roll scheme. But as Minnesota proved tonight, the best ones are often more subtle — and far more specific. On offense, Anthony Edwards took slightly different angles coming off his pick-and-rolls. Rather than rush into them in a straight line to get downhill, as he did in Game 2, Edwards took a step sideways or even backward to ensure he ran his own man into the screen and gave himself an extra split second to read the rest of the Thunder defense. By starting wide and then shifting to go downhill, Edwards kept Oklahoma City off balanced, kept himself on balance and created more room for his now-elite pull-up 3. "He elevates so much on his jump shot but it is pure." — NBA (@NBA) May 25, 2025 On defense, Minnesota went against what many pundits publicly suggestions and gave Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams more space on their drives. The Timberwolves had crept far too close to the Thunder's stars in the first two games, allowing Oklahoma City to negate Minnesota's length advantage and — as you may have heard — stack up bushels of free throws. In Game 3, Jaden McDaniels made it a point to hang a few feet back of Gilgeous-Alexander, all while remaining on the balls of his feet to absorb SGA's strong attacks. The Wolves' bigs — Rudy Gobert in particular — stayed back at first, but then shifted up on the floor once Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams accelerated. This change prevented Oklahoma City's stars from initiating the body contact they thrived on in Games 1 and 2. Now, the Thunder must figure out a way to creep more into Edwards' space on defense — and more into the Wolves defenders' spaces on offense. — Mike Prada, NBA senior editor
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Collier shines against Sun, Lynx remain unbeaten
Behind 33 points from star forward Napheesa Collier, the Lynx extended their perfect start to 4-0 in 2025 with a 76-70 win over the Connecticut Sun on Friday night at the Target Center. Minnesota got out to a slow start, falling behind 45-35 heading into halftime. Connecticut leaned on veteran guard Marina Mabrey, who led the team with 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists. The Lynx responded by forcing 23 total Sun turnovers, which resulted in 18 points. They held leading scorer Tina Charles to a season-low four points, and their stifling team defense was too much to handle in the second half. Connecticut's largest lead for the game was 15, but Minnesota exploded to win the fourth quarter by 13 points, pulling away for a 76-70 win. Minnesota was able to overcome a 0-11 shooting night from its second-leading scorer, Courtney Williams. Collier had a game-high 33 points on 11-21 shooting from the field with 11 rebounds. Jessica Shepard, with 13 points, and Natisha Hiedeman, with 11 points, were the only two Lynx players to score in double figures, both coming off the bench. The Lynx at 4-0 and Liberty at 2-0 are the only two remaining unbeaten teams in the league. Minnesota will have three days off before hosting the Seattle Storm on Tuesday at the Target Center.
New York Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Paige Bueckers' pro debut in Minnesota was a reflection of her roots and inspiration
MINNEAPOLIS — Ten miles southwest of where Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers received a roaring ovation Wednesday night at the Target Center, she first learned how to shoot a basketball. She was just another anonymous ponytailed kid who spent her winters in the gymnasium. It's a part of the culture here, she says now with the gift of hindsight, and a credit to biting Minnesota snowstorms — basketball blessings in the form of subzero temps and bone-chilling winds. Advertisement Bueckers grew up playing in gyms across the state, then the region, then the country, her name slowly gaining more recognition and acclaim with every passing season. She did so in the shadows of a basketball dynasty being born with the Minnesota Lynx on the shoulders (and passes) of another Minnesota kid — Lindsay Whalen, a point guard who grew up in an era without the WNBA. Whalen, who hailed from Hutchinson, stayed home and led the Gophers to their first Final Four appearance in 2004 before being drafted to the Connecticut Sun as the No. 4 pick. When Whalen came back to Minnesota in 2010, Bueckers was 10 years old, an avid basketball fan eager for the success Whalen and the Lynx were about to achieve. From 2011 to 2017, the Minnesota Lynx won four WNBA titles. The core players from that run — Whalen, Maya Moore, Rebekkah Brunson, Seimone Augustus and Sylvia Fowles — now have their numbers retired, hanging from the Target Center rafters. Bueckers vividly remembers those days of regularly attending games. She can recount the rivalry with the Sparks, the 2017 WNBA Finals series played at the Barn (Minnesota's home gym) while the Target Center underwent renovations, and the way Cheryl Reeve coached. 'The dynasty Cheryl created is something to admire and aspire to be,' she said. We've got Paige… you've got problems 🙂 — Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) May 20, 2025 On Wednesday night, five years after leaving for UConn — where Bueckers became an international basketball star, NIL darling and finally, last month, a national champion — she was back in her home state. But this time, she was there as a visitor. Over the last few years, she's rarely made it back, typically only in August to see family and friends, soak up the last parts of summer and visit the Minnesota State Fair. Advertisement In her first appearance in Target Center as a WNBA player, she notched her first professional double-double — 12 points and 10 assists. Even with the small heroics from the No. 1 draft pick, it wasn't enough to tip the scales for the Wings, who dropped to 0-3 on the season with the 99-84 loss. Before this homecoming, Bueckers was peppered with questions about her return. What would it be like? How would she feel? What local haunts would she visit? She had prepared for it like any other game, she said — a veteran-like answer to an expected question. When Wednesday came, she really tried to approach it like she would if it were in any other venue. But this one, she admits, hit differently. When she took the floor, it wasn't just any other opponent; it was the Lynx. It was just any other coach; it was Reeve (with Whalen and Brunson as assistants beside her). And it wasn't just any other gym; it was the Target Center. For years, she has talked about inspiring the next generation of players. But here, those words about seeing herself in the stands was different. It wasn't theoretical. 'To see all the little girls and people in the stands and realize that was you just about 10, 15 years ago,' Bueckers said. 'You never take it for granted how blessed we are to be able to play in this league and to play at this level.' In high school, Bueckers played in the Target Center for the 2018 state title with her Hopkins team. She scored 37 points, but the rest of her team scored just 26 as it lost to Eastview. After the game, Eastview coach Molly Kasper said: 'She is going to probably be in the WNBA one day.' There is nothing like friends and family 🧡 Paige Bueckers is just a kid from Minnesota getting showered with love after playing in the place she grew up for the first time in her WNBA career — WNBA (@WNBA) May 22, 2025 The breadcrumbs Bueckers left in the Target Center along the way provided even more proof. Four years later, Bueckers was back at the Target Center with UConn as a sophomore point guard in her second consecutive Final Four appearance. She led the Huskies in scoring (14) and rebounds (six), but it wasn't enough to overcome South Carolina. Advertisement Now, three years later, she was back as a WNBA rookie. So, no, Wednesday night was not just like any other night. It couldn't have been. She understands there are players not much older than she who grew up without a professional league to which they could aspire. She knows there are plenty of women who put in the time she did without knowing whether the WNBA would exist in which to play. Bueckers had a dynastic franchise in her backyard, growing up at a time in Minnesota when professional athletic excellence was synonymous only with women's professional sports. From 2011-18, the Twins and Timberwolves each made the postseason only once, the Vikings made the playoffs three times and once out of the wild card game. The Wild — the most successful major professional franchise at the time not named Lynx — got to the NHL conference quarterfinals once. Meanwhile, the Lynx were on a historic run that set a standard for WNBA teams for years to come. And Bueckers was there to witness it all. 'They were everything I aspired to be,' Bueckers said of that dynasty. 'It gave me something to work for and admire. To be able to see what you want to be is very important. Growing up, that was a huge part of the reason why I wanted to be in this league.' Today, Bueckers is here certainly because of her own making, but also because of the people and players — many of whom wore Lynx uniforms — who showed her how it could be done. In the stands on Wednesday night, hundreds could tell their own Bueckers story about how they know her or how she inspired them. In her own way, Bueckers could turn that back to them. She couldn't point out all of her family members, Hopkins and AAU teammates and friends in the arena, but she was grateful to have them there for a night that, she admitted, was different from all the others. 'To have them here, it means everything to me,' she said. 'Because they were a huge part of my story in getting here.' Among that group, she includes her Wednesday night opponent: the Minnesota Lynx. (Photo of Paige Bueckers: Ellen Schmidt / Getty Images)
