Skip to player
Skip to main content
Skip to footer
Search
Connect
Watch fullscreen
Like
Comments
Bookmark
Share
Add to Playlist
Report
Minnesota Timberwolves' Critical Game Three Strategy Analysis
SportsGrid
Follow
5/24/2025
Category
🥇
Sports
Transcript
Display full video transcript
00:00
Tomorrow night, game number three, kitchen sink.
00:03
Minnesota needs everything to try to keep this series afloat for as long as possible.
00:09
Just a three-point home underdog.
00:12
DRS, what is your early look at game number three tomorrow night?
00:17
I mean, it's pretty hard to sit back and say that,
00:19
boy, I like the Minnesota Timberwolves at this point.
00:21
They can get back into the series because I like the Minnesota Timberwolves
00:24
heading into game number two, and they didn't necessarily show up.
00:26
You know, a lot of people tried hard in that game, but not a lot of good results here.
00:31
Anthony Edwards put up that number.
00:32
I knew he would get into the 30s, but didn't get any help from the secondary players.
00:35
Now, having said that, you know me all along in the NBA, in college basketball,
00:39
you can say the same thing.
00:40
The bench players always play better at home.
00:42
You're cheered on by the home crowd.
00:43
You're used to playing in that environment.
00:44
You expect better results from those guys, like even like a Dante DiVincenzo.
00:48
DiVincenzo's been around the block like, hey, you know what?
00:50
Maybe I won't be like a minus 30 in this game.
00:52
I'll come out, knock down some three-point shots, and we'll sort of survive
00:55
because you can't just have one or two players hold all the weight on offense.
01:00
It just doesn't work.
01:01
In particular, that might work if you have the number one seed
01:03
because you are the best team, not if you're looking to knock off a number one seed.
01:07
But when I look at that line, it opened up at the FanDuel Sportsbook
01:09
at two and a half as a favorite here in New Jersey to OKC.
01:13
Quickly went to three, and other outlets right now are showing a three and a half.
01:16
That's just the public weighing in saying, you're telling me now,
01:19
after watching the first two games, I just need to basically win a basketball game with OKC.
01:24
I'm fine with that.
01:25
But game number threes typically are the most tricky,
01:27
specifically when the home team already has home court advantage.
01:31
They're up 2-0.
01:32
You understand as a Minnesota Timberwolves fan, backer, front office, and player,
01:37
you lose this game, the series is over.
01:39
That does have an impact on that line because if you do lose this game,
01:43
even if it's been you lose it by two points and you cover,
01:46
you know what game four is?
01:47
That's a whitewash for OKC because Minnesota goes,
01:50
we're not beating the top seed four straight games after we just lost three times.
01:54
As a matter of fact, let me just get my summer vacation going
01:56
before I even have to go back to OKC at this point.
01:59
That's the way I look at it.
02:00
So if I'm reading lines, I like the fact that it opened up at two and a half
02:03
and it's now sitting at three and a half, right?
02:05
Because you're saying to yourself, that's the way it's supposed to go.
02:07
I want to see where this line goes down by game time
02:09
because if you were looking to back again Minnesota,
02:12
this is your last chance to do so.
02:14
If they don't cover, probably means they didn't win.
02:17
And then game number four, I don't care what the number is.
02:20
OKC, smoke that basketball team.
02:23
It's a great point, DRS.
02:24
And we love the FanDuel Sportsbook for a variety of reasons.
02:27
But I really love when they have the betting stats of what is out there
02:31
for how the public or really anybody is approaching the handicap for these games.
02:36
Because yesterday, when we were live, about 52% of the bets
02:40
were backing the Timberwolves as that road underdog
02:43
to keep game two tightly contested.
02:46
Line was seven, seven and a half in favor of the Thunder.
02:49
By the time we got the tip last night,
02:51
more than 60% of the bets were backing Minnesota
02:54
to keep the game competitive.
02:57
And yet the line was working to OKC.
03:00
What should that maybe have told you about where things stand?
03:03
You saw the graphic there at three and a half.
03:06
Currently live on FanDuel, it is three.
03:09
66% of the bets backing Oklahoma City DRS.
03:13
Again, as it could be understood, winning each of the first two games
03:16
by 15-plus to simply win by four tomorrow night in the Twin Cities.
03:22
And yet the line, at least ever so slightly, by a half point,
03:27
kind of working back to the T-wolves.
03:29
It will be interesting to see what the number is by the time we get to tip
03:33
tomorrow night on a Saturday in Minneapolis.
03:36
A change of venue in Minnesota, hoping to take advantage
03:40
to keep this series going for as long as possible.
03:43
DRS, I did not expect this to be the case,
03:46
but there's a decent chance,
03:48
especially depending on how game three plays out tomorrow,
03:51
that by the time we return on Tuesday,
03:53
after a long holiday weekend here on the early line,
03:57
this series could be over.
03:58
Game number four in the Twin Cities on Memorial Day Monday.
04:01
Yeah, we also had a poll that we put out.
04:03
What's more likely to happen?
04:05
The Minnesota Timberwolves win the series or a sweep by OKC?
04:08
Most people thought that it was the Minnesota Timberwolves
04:09
to win the series because we couldn't fathom a sweep at that point.
04:13
I also understand, like, we are not unbelievable.
04:15
I can't believe Minnesota didn't win one game in OKC.
04:18
We're not here.
04:19
It's up to you to even the score at home.
04:21
We're not even even the score.
04:22
How about win one out of the next two games on your home court
04:25
in the playoffs in the Western Conference Finals,
04:27
which then would take away the thought process
04:29
of the sweep being eligible here for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
04:32
But you are going to get a maximum effort
04:34
out of the Timberwolves' understanding.
04:35
You lose this game.
04:36
There is no tomorrow.
04:37
The series is over.
04:38
And the price point is going to reflect that.
04:40
We'll just see where some of the sharper money comes in
04:42
because initially, bumping that price higher,
04:45
you see the three and a half and say,
04:46
well, they can't lose.
04:47
But then you take a look at there's no wiggle room.
04:49
Like, hey, they're getting seven and a half points,
04:51
lose by five, no big deal.
04:52
You have to win this game if you're in Minnesota.
04:54
And we'll see where the public is
04:56
once this game gets closer to tip time.
Recommended
1:41
|
Up next
Minnesota's Crucial Game Three Strategies Against OKC Explained
SportsGrid
5/24/2025
6:08
Timberwolves Battle Thunder in Critical Game Three Showdown
SportsGrid
5/23/2025
3:22
Exploring Game Two Dynamics: OKC vs. Minnesota Showdown
SportsGrid
5/24/2025
2:10
Thunder Favored to Take Game 5 & Series Against Timberwolves
SportsGrid
5/28/2025
0:58
Oklahoma City vs. Minnesota: Thunder Favored by 12.5 Points
SportsGrid
2/24/2025
2:26
Minnesota vs. OKC Game 1: NBA Western Conference Finals
SportsGrid
5/24/2025
3:48
Thunder vs. Timberwolves Betting Odds & Game Analysis
SportsGrid
5/24/2025
3:17
Exploring Timberwolves' Playoff Challenges Against OKC
SportsGrid
5/24/2025
1:36
Thunder vs. Timberwolves Game Two Preview: Odds & Predictions
SportsGrid
5/24/2025
4:08
Minnesota vs. OKC: Thunder Looks to Close Out Series
SportsGrid
5/28/2025
1:43
Timberwolves Upset Thunder 116-101: Thursday's NBA Recap
SportsGrid
2/15/2025
1:19
Kings Face Tough Odds Against Timberwolves in Road Game
SportsGrid
2/3/2025
1:54
Thunder vs. Timberwolves Game Two: Thunder Favorites Tonight
SportsGrid
5/24/2025
2:21
Thunder Down Timberwolves in Game 5, Advance to NBA Finals
SportsGrid
5/29/2025
3:15
Thunder vs. Timberwolves Game Two: Trends & Predictions
SportsGrid
5/24/2025
3:21
Timberwolves Coach Chris Finch Talks Game Three Strategy
SportsGrid
5/24/2025
1:55
Timberwolves Falter in Game: Analysis of Their Poor Start
SportsGrid
5/29/2025
3:53
Thunder Narrowly Wins with SGA's Stellar Performance
SportsGrid
5/28/2025
5:08
Thunder Takes Commanding 2-0 Series Lead Over Minnesota
SportsGrid
5/24/2025
2:56
Lakers Trail in Series But Favored in Game 5 vs. Timberwolves
SportsGrid
5/1/2025
4:53
MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Leads the Thunder to Victory
SportsGrid
5/24/2025
2:28
Thunder Triumph Over Timberolves 130-123, Eye Next Game
SportsGrid
2/24/2025
3:47
OKC Dominates Timberwolves: 2-0 Series Lead Insight
SportsGrid
5/24/2025
1:10
Nuggets vs. Thunder Game 1 Analysis: Betting Odds Insight
SportsGrid
5/6/2025
1:30
Timberwolves' Home Floor Advantage Sparks Hope | NBA Previews
SportsGrid
5/18/2024