Following Minnesota’s second straight loss in the Western Conference Finals, Timberwolves veteran guard Mike Conley emphasized the urgency ahead of Saturday’s pivotal Game 3 in Minneapolis.
“They took care of business,” Conley said postgame. “Now we have to do the same. Game 3 is the most important one.”
The Timberwolves trail 0–2 in the series after a 118–103 loss to the top-seeded Thunder, who were led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 38-point performance.
While Minnesota showed some late fight, Conley acknowledged recurring third-quarter issues have hurt their chances.
“It’s like two, three possessions in a row where they really amp up the pressure,” he explained. “We get out of sorts offensively. That’s where it gets out of hand.”
Minnesota shot just 28.2% from deep in Game 2 and committed 14 turnovers, including several during Oklahoma City’s third-quarter surge.
Conley credited the Thunder’s defense but said execution must improve.
“We’re getting some good looks here and there,” he said. “But you get one clean look after nine contested ones, and you feel rushed. We just got to be better.”
He also pointed to the need for offensive structure, especially when momentum shifts.
“We still need to play with pace and speed,” Conley said. “But when things don’t go our way, we need to revert back to two or three things we can handle offensively.”
On defense, Conley stressed the importance of contesting mid-range shots — a staple of Gilgeous-Alexander’s game.
“Our bigs got to be up,” he said. “You can’t give that up to these guys. These guys make that shot.”
Minnesota showed flashes late in Game 2 with a bigger lineup and more aggressive mindset, something Conley wants to see carried over.
“It’s almost like a mindset,” he said. “You got to work for it right now.”
With the Timberwolves returning to Target Center, where they are 4–1 this postseason, Conley said the message was simple.
“Just turn the page. Maybe we found a couple things that can work,” he noted. “We can take that momentum into Game 3 and be ready to go.”
Minnesota’s season now hinges on defending its home court, starting with Saturday’s contest.
