Minnesota on the verge of their first postseason whitewash after escaping Portland with 133-127 win in game three
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PORTLAND, April 22 – The Minnesota Timberwolves are one game away from winning their first playoff game in 16 years, after escaping Portland with a six point victory in a closely contested 133-127 game three in this playoff series. Minnesota has never whitewashed a series before, although in their 31-year history, they have played in just 11 series. That could all change in two nights’ time, after Kelly Oubre Jr and Karl Anthony-Towns led the Timberwolves with 27 points. While this series may be remembered for the outright domination by Anthony-Towns in the paint and the emergence of Oubre Jr, game three was very much a team effort with five players registering double points. D’Angelo Russell (24 points) dished out a team high 8 assists, Malik Beasley (20 points) hit 3 of his 5 3-pointers and Josh Okogie went 10 of 12 from the free throw line. Damian Lillard did have his breakthrough game, registering 37 points and 11 points, but for much of the series it has felt like he has played second fiddle to D’Angelo Russell. C.J. McCollum, who was instrumental in Portland’s season sweep over Minnesota scored 28 points but missed the key buckets – despite going 5 of 11 from beyond the arc. Statistics can be misleading. The Trail Blazers have simply not been good enough this series, despite posing a series threat to force a tie after having spurts of dominating game three.
Composure plays a huge part of the postseason. It defines champions and pretenders. Minnesota showed they have the mettle after tonight’s contest. With 2:40 remaining in the game, Portland’s three-point shot by Damian Lillard closed the deficit to just a 124-120 lead. Karl Anthony-Towns would miss his close range shot which allowed Portland to mount a quick offensive attack, which resulted in a bucket, closing the deficit to just two points with 1:59 remaining in the game. With just 1:41 remaining in the game, Portland unraveled and gave the game away. Damian Lillard, committing his fifth foul of the night, fouled Malik Beasley as he attempted a shot from within the paint. The shot was made and Beasley nailed his free throw attempt, giving the Timberwolves a 127-122 lead with 1:41 remaining. C.J. McCollum would miss the next shot and Naz Reid made good of Karl Anthony-Towns assist to give the Timberwolves a 129-122 lead with 1:23 remaining. Damian Lillard would answer back with a three point attempt before being force out of bounds by D’Angelo Russell with 1:06 remaining in the game. The meltdown was evident. The maturity to take the next step simply wasn’t there. With 17 seconds left in the game, D’Angelo Russell’s final three of the game gave them a 131-125 lead.
A far cry from a third quarter which saw Portland nail 8 of their 13 3-pointers. The Trail Blazers simply aren’t ready for the next step. Portland failed to rise to the occasion on home court. Shooting 9 of 26 from the field, those numbers simply aren’t good enough. Can they win four straight to force a series upset? With the first three games as evidence, it seems highly unlikely. The series is now for Minnesota to throw away. “We’re playing how we envisioned all season… We know we can go all the way,” said a jubilant Karl Anthony-Towns after the game. Minnesota head coach Ryan Saunders was more discreet in his post-game interview. “Portland are a great team. We’re lucky to be up 3-0. We have a squad we feel like can do some damage this post-season. The Trail Blazers fought hard. It’s been a good series. There’s still lots of more basketball to play for.” If there’s still lots of basketball to play for, that definition may just be one more game, four more quarters. In two nights, we will know.