Terrence Shannon Jr. made the most of his opportunity in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, scoring 15 points off the bench to help the Minnesota Timberwolves dominate the Oklahoma City Thunder 143-101.
Shannon said he was told before tipoff that he’d start the second quarter and kept a simple mindset: “Always stay ready and just be the best teammate I can be.”
His aggressive approach paid off as he attacked downhill and scored nine points in the second quarter alone, giving Minnesota a spark while Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle led the starters.
“That’s my game—attacking downhill, getting in the paint, and making open shots,” Shannon said after the win, which cut Oklahoma City’s lead in the series to 2-1.
The rookie credited Edwards, who scored 30 points, as a mentor and energy source, saying, “I honestly just feed off their energy. Or if the energy is low, I just bring it.”
Shannon’s readiness and poise were praised by veteran Naz Reid, who said, “He’s always ready. He’s always up. He’s never in his feelings or down or upset. He’s always willing to be in the gym.”
Reid, who added 12 points and five rebounds in the win, reflected on the experience of watching Shannon step into a bigger role, calling it “fun to see” and saying it reminded him of his own early days in the league.
Asked whether he’s struggled transitioning from being a college star at Illinois to an inconsistent role in the pros, Shannon dismissed the idea of frustration.
“I knew when I got drafted here, I got drafted to a good team. I knew I was going to have to work my butt off to get in the rotation,” he said.
Minnesota’s bench outscored Oklahoma City’s 76-38, with Shannon’s performance leading the second unit’s surge in front of a loud Target Center crowd.
Although he received a strong ovation from fans, Shannon made it clear that only one player gets that kind of treatment in Minneapolis: “Don’t nobody get the Naz Reid treatment.”
With Game 4 set for Monday night at home, both Shannon and Reid emphasized the importance of staying consistent to even the series before heading back to Oklahoma City.
“Defensively and offensively, stay consistent,” Reid said. “That’s the name of the game—consistency.”
Minnesota shot 57.3 percent from the field and hit 20 threes in Game 3, while holding the Thunder to just 101 points and forcing 14 turnovers.
As the Timberwolves look to sustain their momentum, Shannon’s emergence could be a key factor heading into a pivotal Game 4.
