The Minnesota Timberwolves appear to be losing their grip in the Western Conference Finals after a tough Game 3 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. This defeat has come as a nightmare for the Wolves, particularly for Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, whose stellar performances throughout the season have been overshadowed by recent setbacks.

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal recently shared his insights on what the Timberwolves need to do to turn things around and potentially win the NBA Championship this season. Shaq’s critique points directly at the decline of KAT and Edwards’ shooting percentage. Shaq urged the duo to elevate their game.

“If Minnesota wants to move on — and possibly win the championship — their two stars have to play lights out. … 28% and 21% is not going to get it done,” O’Neal said.

The Timberwolves were once hailed as the greatest defensive team since 2004. But in this Western Conference Finals series, they have struggled to maintain their momentum. In Game 3, the Mavericks’ star players Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving outshone Edwards and Towns, scoring a combined 70 points.

Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns’ Game 3 performance

In Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, Anthony Edwards recorded 26 points on 11-of-24 shooting from the field. However, Edwards, who got a nod from Doncic, also dished out nine assists but struggled with turnovers, committing five in the game.

Karl-Anthony Towns contributed a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, including ten defensive rebounds.

Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Yet, Towns faced difficulties from beyond the arc. He missed all eight of his attempts, including a critical three-pointer late in the game when the deficit was four with just over a minute remaining.

The duo’s offensive contributions were not enough to overcome the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs capitalized on key opportunities and closed with a 14-3 run.