Minnesota Sports Forum

Yes it is. Sure, teams have come back from 2-0 deficits before, but I don't know that it has ever been done against a 68-win team. OkC's worst 10-game stretch this season was 7-3. If we go down 2-0, we have to win 4 out of the next 5 games...that seems like almost an impossibility against a team that didn't lose 3 games in a row all season, and only lost 2 in a row twice. So yeah, I see this as a must win, and our guys better play like it.

The Thunder are 7 1/2 point favorites, so a win would be a big upset. Doesn't mean it can't happen. We have two veteran referees in Foster and Brothers, and you know they are aware of all the talk about SGA and foul baiting (by the way, is Brunson any better...I saw him recoil his head last night like Mike Tyson had hit him, although I didn't see any contact.) I have to believe they don't want to get called out like Lindsay was and maybe even have been warned by the NBA, so I suspect they will error on the side of "letting them play". That has to help us.

Many of the pundits I respect say the Wolves have to get to the basket more tonight. I agree they need to come out aggressively driving, but if the same thing happens that happened Tuesday (the Thunder's quick hands poking the ball away often when we attacked), we may have to abandon that strategy and hope that we hit our 3-pointers at a rate more like we did all season. Our bench went 5 for 29 on treys, while theirs went 8 for 11. If anything like that happens again, I suspect more than 1 Timberwolf will be calling the Le Blanc Spa Resort in Cancun late next Wednesday night to tell them they'll be there Thursday.

Protect the ball, make quick decisions before OkC's defense can react, shoot and rebound better, and hope that the Foster crew helps us with SGA. Do all that, and we have a chance.

I don't think it's a must win yet, though it would change the series if we can pull it off. I remember the Bucks-Raptors conference finals a few years ago where the Bucks went up 2-0 at home and had a lead late in game 3. Toronto stormed back to win the next 4 games and take the series.

I don't feel good about tonights game. I worry about the big run OKC can go on and our ability to minimize it. But I also think it's going to be difficult for them to beat us at TC. I still think the series is going 7 games.

I agree on the must win. Sure you're not eliminated down 2-0. But just the odds of winning 4 of 5 is a long shot. You win and all of a sudden it's close to 50-50 and a series. A loss and you might be 10% chance, if you're lucky.

You want to win a chip, get this game tonight and shock the world.

That better be our ball

That was clearly off dort

What was that call as they went to break?

Rudy showing his value. Both of Ant's buckets were due to something Rudy did...offensive rebound on one, and a terrific screen on the other. Ant wants to be aggressive tonight, and Rudy can help him there. Now if only Ju could make a layup.

Jaden is good

I'm sorry, you can't play Rudy

33% shooting ain't gonna cut it, fellas.