Only one team looked ready to play in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves, and it wasn’t the team with a 2-0 lead.

After lopsided losses in Games 1 and 2, the Timberwolves got on the board with an out-of-nowhere 143-101 demolition of the Thunder. The 42-point margin was OKC’s worst loss of the season, and the 143 points scored set a playoff franchise record for Minnesota.

Anthony Edwards clearly entered the game on a mission after a subpar Game 1. The Minnesota star notched 16 points and two assists in the first quarter, single-handedly outscoring the Thunder. The Timberwolves finished the frame 34-14, OKC’s lowest-scoring quarter of the season, and kept pounding them from there.

Edwards finished the game with 30 points on 12-of-17 shooting, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals.

The most telling stat for the Timberwolves as a team might have been that they had 16 points off turnovers in the first quarter, after posting 10 in all of Game 2.

By halftime, the Timberwolves were up by 31. By the end of the third quarter, they were up 37. Their lead peaked at 45. It was an impressive response after the Thunder bullied them in Oklahoma, with every member of the rotation showing increased aggression on defense.

For OKC, the problems started with a season-low 14-point night from newly crowned MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. 

Even with the Thunder’s dominance this season, their offense needs him to be a consistent difference-maker with the ball, and Minnesota’s adjustments kept him contained pretty much all night. Defenders kept picking him up at mid-range on drives, taking away a vital part of his game and leaving the rest of OKC’s offense needing to improvise.

Notably, Gilgeous-Alexander reached the free-throw line only four times, with chants of “Free-throw merchant” raining down from the Minnesota crowd. He shot 4-of-13 from the field, with 6 assists and 4 turnovers. 

No other Thunder player scored more than 13 points, and it was the first time the team lost the turnover battle since March 25.

Game 4 is scheduled for Monday at the Target Center, where the Timberwolves can either even the series or get pushed to the brink. Judging from how they looked Saturday, the Thunder have some significant changes to make.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are facing the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. During Game 1, the Thunder defeated the Timberwolves 114-88, with the Thunder pulling off a “masterful” second half. Game 2 saw another win from the Thunder, making them 2-0 in the series and just two wins away from the 2025 NBA Finals. Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals series will tip off at 8:30 p.m. tonight, and you can catch this game on ABC. Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the Timberwolves vs. Thunder series.

How to watch the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder:

Dates: May 24, 2025

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET (Game 3)

TV channel: ABC

Streaming: DirecTV, Sling, Fubo and more

NBA Western Conference Finals channel:

All games in the NBA Western Conference finals between the Timberwolves and Thunder will air on ESPN, with the exception of Game 3, which will air on ABC. 

How to watch the NBA Western Conference Finals without cable:

Who is playing in the NBA Western Conference Finals?

This year, the Minnesota Timberwolves will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals.

2025 NBA Western Conference Finals TV schedule:

All times Eastern. Winners in bold.

Game 1: Timberwolves vs. Thunder; Tuesday, May 20 (8:30 ET, ESPN)

Game 2: Timberwolves vs. Thunder; Thursday, May 22 (8:30 ET, ESPN)

Game 3: Thunder vs. Timberwolves; Saturday, May 24 (8:30 ET, ABC)

Game 4: Thunder vs. Timberwolves; Monday, May 26 (8:30 ET, ESPN)

Game 5: Timberwolves vs. Thunder; Wednesday, May 28 (8:30 ET, ESPN)*

Game 6: Thunder vs. Timberwolves; Friday, May 30 (8:30 ET, ESPN)*

Game 7: Timberwolves vs. Thunder; Sunday, June 1 (8 ET, ESPN)*

*if necessary

More ways to watch the NBA Playoffs:

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Captain Ardie Savea spoke quietly, consolingly to his players after Moana Pasifika’s shock 85-7 loss to the Chiefs Saturday in the penultimate regular season round of Super Rugby.

The defeat came only a week after Moana Pasifika were on a high after their sixth win of the season and their first-ever win over the defending champion Blues moved it into sixth place on the championship table.

Moana Pasifika held onto sixth place despite the massive loss, though their task of sealing a playoffs place for the first time is now much more difficult. They will face the fourth-placed Hurricanes in next weekend’s final round and now have the Auckland-based Blues and New South Wales Waratahs breathing down their neck.

The Wellington-based Hurricanes are unbeaten in their last five matches, a streak which includes a convincing win over the Chiefs.

Savea told his teammates not to make excuses or look to blame others for Saturday’s record defeat. Rather, he said, they should commit it to memory and draw on it later for inspiration.

“You can be up one day and get humbled real quick,” Savea said as his players stood around him arm in arm. “Our season’s still alive. We’ve got one (win) still to get.

“It’s a tough pill to swallow. Take it. Look up boys, look up. It’s not over yet.”

Later, in a television interview Savea reflected on the first major setback in a record-breaking season for Moana Pasifika.

The Auckland-based team has never won six matches in a season. This year under Savea’s inspirational leadership for the first time and the coaching of Fa’alogo Tana Umaga, Moana Pasifika has achieved a new sense of unity and discovered its full potential.

Savea admitted nothing had gone right Saturday. The Chiefs scored their first try after nine minutes through fullback Shaun Stevenson, who had a creative role in several tries.

Scrumhalf Cortz Ratima and winger Leroy Carter each scored hat-tricks for the Chiefs.

Moana Pasifika were punished for poor discipline with two yellow cards and a penalty try.

“It was a tough night,” Savea said. “You’ve got to give credit to the Chiefs, they were just ruthless tonight and we couldn’t get out of it.

“We’re on fire when things are going our way. It’s just now asking the question about when we’re under pressure like that how we can get out of it. It’s a question to the boys and to myself as a leader.”

The Chiefs’ win lifted them back to into first place, above the Crusaders, ACT Brumbies, Hurricanes and Queensland Reds. It was a performance that demanded the attention of all those teams with the playoffs only two weeks away.

The Chiefs played with width, from touchline to touchline, constantly stretching the defense until it bent and broke. They will now finish their regular season with a match against the 10th-place Highlanders while the Crusaders face a much tougher finish against the Brumbies in Canberra.

The Blues and Waratahs meet in Auckland in a match both teams must win to have any chance of reaching the playoffs.

Reece’s record

Crusaders winger Sevu Reece became the top try-scorer in Super Rugby history Friday when he scored his 66th career try in the Crusaders 15-12 win over the Highlanders.

Reece had equaled T.J. Perenara’s record of 65 tries a week earlier and now takes the outright record ahead of Perenara, Julian Savea (63) and Israel Folau (60).

“I was just speechless,” said Reece who was playing his 84th Super Rugby match. “It was honestly awesome.

“I’ve seen it in basketball when someone hits a milestone and they stop the game. When they did that tonight, it was awesome. Just seeing how far I’ve come, it’s a very special moment.”

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Add UFC heavyweight veteran Alexander Volkov to the list of people frustrated with Jon Jones holding up the division.

Volkov (38-11 MMA, 12-5 UFC), currently ranked No. 3 by the promotion in the heavyweight division, wants clarity in the title picture. Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) is expected to fight a title unification bout against interim champion Tom Aspinall next. However, after the promotion announced its summer slate of pay-per-view main events, the Jones vs. Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) fight remains unscheduled.

It’s a frustrating position for the Russian heavyweight. Volkov, 36, knows his window of opportunity to earn a title shot is rapidly closing.

“As a fighter, of course, I have a negative opinion about the delay of the Jones-Aspinall fight, because my chances to fight for the championship title are getting smaller, and time is running out,” Volkov told ChampionAT in Russian (translated by Google). “In other weight classes, there is a real conveyor belt of fights. That is why I am unhappy. So I would have had a chance to test myself in a title fight a long time ago, if it were not for Jon Jones.”

Jones won the vacant title by submitting Ciryl Gane in the first round at UFC 285 in March 2023. Jones did not defend his title until UFC 309 in November 2024, where he easily dispatched Stipe Miocic, which was a heavily criticized matchup. Miocic was 42, and had not won a fight since August 2020. Meanwhile, Aspinall was right there waiting as a top contender, as he is today, but with a piece of the title.

UFC CEO Dana White has said on more than one occasion that the Jones vs. Aspinall fight will come together soon, but the demeanor Jones has displayed on social media suggests he’s closer to never fighting again than getting ready for another fight.

Volkov, who saw a four-fight winning streak come to an end in a split decision loss to Gane at UFC 310 in December, hopes things clear up soon. He likely has to win a fight or two to earn a shot at the title, but he would like to know what is necessary.

Despite being frustrated with the situation, Volkov said he understands Jones’ position as a hot commodity who can call his own shots. However, he also wonders why the UFC continues to entertain Jones while it ruins the flow of the division.

“If I were in Jones’ place, with his position, the goal of earning the maximum amount of money and the desire to fight when it is convenient for him, then, of course, I would continue to do this,” Volkov said. “It is obvious that he does, first and foremost, what is beneficial for him, and Jon has the right to do this. The question here is not so much about Jon Jones, but about the fact that the UFC allows him to behave this way and shows excessive loyalty to him. As a result, everyone is waiting.”

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC’s Alexander Volkov frustrated by Jon Jones holding up division

The Golden State Warriors have had over 600 players don the more than 60 jersey numbers used by their players over the more than 75 years of existence the team has enjoyed in its rich and storied history.

Founded in 1946 during the Basketball Association of America (BAA — a precursor league of the NBA) era, the team has called home the cities of Philadelphia, San Francisco, Oakland, and even San Diego.

 To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Warriors Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team. For this article, we begin with the 17th of 28 players who wore the No. 12 jersey for the Warriors.

That player would be Golden State forward alum Andre Spencer. After ending his college career at Northern Arizona University, Spencer would go unselected in the 1986 NBA draft, instead playing abroad or in other domestic leagues until he signed with the Atlanta Hawks in 1992.

The Stockton, California native would sign with the Dubs in 1993 for his next NBA gig, his stay spanning just 22 games over two seasons, ending when he was cut early in the second season.

During his time suiting up for the Warriors, Spencer wore only jersey No. 12 and put up 9.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Warriors jersey history – No. 12 – Andre Spencer (1993)

The Oklahoma City Thunder (and the Seattle Supersonics before them) have 51 jersey numbers worn by the players who have suited up for the franchise since its founding at the start of the 1967-68 season. To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Thunder Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team.

And while those Supersonics jerseys may not remain part of the franchise history should a new team be established in Seattle as was the case with the return of the Charlotte Hornets, they are part of the Thunder’s history today.

For this article, we continue with the 30th jersey number in the series, jersey No. 30, with 13 players in total having donned the jersey in the history of the franchise.

The fifth of those players did so in the Seattle SuperSonics era, guard alum Charles Bradley. After ending his college career at Wyoming, Bradley was picked up with the 23rd overall selection of the 1981 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics.

The Havre De Grace, Maryland native would play the first two seasons of his pro career with the Celtics, ending when he signed with Seattle for the final season of his career.

During his time suiting up for the Sonics, Bradley wore only jersey No. 30 and put up 1.4 points per game.

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Thunder jersey history No. 30 – Charles Bradley (1983-84)

It wasn’t an ideal weekend, but the Wizards will take it.

No. 4 Windsor is still alive for a state championship, making the Colorado Class 4A baseball Final Four with a 2-1 run May 23-24 in the state tournament down at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

The Wizards owned a five-run lead on No. 3 Golden in the semifinals. A win would have meant a spot in next weekend’s 4A finals (May 31), needing only one win in two games for the title.

Instead, the Demons took advantage of a timely mid-game rain delay and scored six runs in the fifth inning to grab that championship spot with a 12-11 win.

The Wizards still sit in solid position, ready to face the winner of No. 5 Palisade-No. 6 Palisade in a consolation final (May 30, 12:30 p.m.). With a win, they’d advance to the championship game(s) on May 31 and get another shot at Golden.

Windsor started its state-tournament run with a pair of wins, beating No. 5 Palisade 9-2 and then No. 1 Pueblo County 8-2 on May 21.

Eight different players had RBIs during those two victories, including a 3-for-5 game from Ethan Fillinger with 5 RBIs vs. the top-seeded Hornets.

Wyatt Gustafson was opportunistic in the opener, tossing 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball and using six strikeouts to escape jams after allowing eight hits and three walks against Palisade.

Mason Jordan took it up a notch, firing a complete game with just four hits and two runs allowed vs. Pueblo County.

While Windsor jumped out to 3-0 and 10-5 leads against Golden, they didn’t stand up long. Helped by three Wizard errors, the Demons scored four in the second inning and six more in the fifth to swing momentum.

A seventh-inning rally came up one run short after Izaak Haro halved the Golden lead with a two-out RBI single.

As it happened: Live recap, updates from Colorado high school state baseball tournaments

Now, though, the Wizards get to reset their rotation for next week. That’s especially valuable after key injuries to top arms like Grant Kerber and Drew Miller thinned their pitching depth.

Some history is at stake here for Windsor, this being one of longtime head coach Brad Deal’s most talented squads.

The Wizards are already into the Final Four for the first time since 2018, and they haven’t made a baseball championship game since 1994.

Windsor is still seeking the school’s first-ever state title on the baseball diamond.

Fossil Ridge falls in state tournament debut

The SaberCats made the 5A state tournament for the first time ever.

Unfortunately, No. 4 Fossil Ridge went 0-2, dropping both despite taking early leads.

No. 8 Castle View knocked the Cats out with a 13-8 win in a May 24 consolation bracket game.

Fossil stormed out strong with five runs in the first to take a 5-1 lead, led by Luc Gaca-Thiele’s three-run homer.

But the other SaberCats put up seven runs in the third and five more in the final two frames after Fossil Ridge had cut the lead to one.

Fossil also started hot in the tournament opener, jumping up 2-0 on Broomfield in the first inning before the Eagles hit a grand slam in the fourth and ultimately won 5-2.

Still, this was another rung up the ladder for an improving Fossil Ridge program.

Under well-respected second-year head coach Marc Wagner, the SaberCats from Fort Collins followed up last year’s 22-2 season with a 20-7 campaign that included a share of the Northern Conference title and an inaugural run to 5A state.

Rocky Mountain ousted early in 5A state tournament

Like their crosstown conference rivals, the Lobos also failed to win a game in the 5A state tournament.

No. 3 Arvada West eliminated No. 7 Rocky Mountain with a 5-3 win May 24 in an elimination game.

The Wildcats scored three in the third inning and two more in the fourth, propelled by Tate Deal’s 2-RBI home run off Ben Coultas, who took the loss on the mound in relief.

Bradley Mallette had a solo shot, but the Lobos’ offense couldn’t sustain rallies for a second straight day.

In the May 21 opener, No. 2 Cherry Creek shut out Rocky 3-0. Bruins’ starter Wyatt Rudden handcuffed the Lobos, striking out 15 while allowing just two hits in a dominant complete-game effort.

Ross Frank tried to match him, also throwing a complete game. But Cherry Creek jumped on him with three early hits plus a solo homer to thwart an otherwise stellar outing in a pitcher’s duel.

While the Lobos have made four of the last seven 5A state tournaments since winning the state title in 2017, wins have been hard to come by.

Rocky Mountain is now just 1-8 in those four trips and have yet to make the 5A Final Four since 2017, when Rocky collected its sixth 5A baseball championship in 11 seasons during a dynastic run.

Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Windsor Wizards make Colorado 4A baseball state tournament Final Four

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays put reliever Yimi García on the 15-day injured list on Saturday with a right shoulder impingement.

Toronto made the move with García shortly before the start of the middle game of a three-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The 34-year-old García last pitched on Thursday, against San Diego, when he worked a scoreless inning and allowed a hit. This season, García has an 0-2 record with a 3.15 ERA in 21 games. He has 24 strikeouts and 10 walks in 20 innings.

García signed a two-year, $15 million contact with Toronto in December.

Last year, he was traded from Toronto to Seattle on July 26 for outfielder Jonatan Clase and catcher/outfielder Jacob Sharp. García had a 6.00 ERA in nine innings over 10 appearances for the Mariners. He was 3-0 with a 3.46 ERA and five saves overall in 39 games and 39 innings in 2024.

García has a record of 22-31 and a 3.57 ERA in 435 career games. He has pitched 418 1/3 innings, striking out 455 and walking 106, with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Houston Astros, Mariners and Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays recalled right-handed pitcher Paxton Schultz from Triple-A.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb