Timberwolves and Frost just a game away from advancing in playoffs Wednesday

NINA MOINI: The Timberwolves are one game away from advancing in the NBA playoffs. They lagged behind the Golden State Warriors in the first half of last night's game. But at the halftime buzzer, Anthony Edwards, "Ant," scored a deep 3 and shrunk the Warriors' lead. Then in the locker room, Edwards said they talked about how to come back in the second half.

ANTHONY EDWARDS: I told them we only got two wins. I've never seen a series end 2-1. I told them, we got to get two more wins. And right now, we're playing like we already got four wins. We're playing like they're going to lay down. Knowing this team, knowing their head coach, they're never going to lay down. So we had to figure it out, man. Because if we would've kept playing like that, we would've lost tonight.

NINA MOINI: The pep talk or whatever he said in the locker room must have worked because the Wolves went on to win the game 117 to 110. Joining me now to talk about what to expect in their next game tomorrow, our sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson. Hi, guys. Thanks for being here.

ERIC NELSON: Nina, how are you doing?

NINA MOINI: I'm doing great. I love when you guys come by because it's hard to keep up on all the different sports. And whenever I talk with you, I feel like I don't even really have to watch because I know these games are starting at 9:00 PM.

[LAUGHTER]

I don't like any team enough to do a 9:00 PM start time. But I know, luckily, you guys are on it. So I understand the Warriors were down a star player with Steph Curry, Wally. Do you think that'll factor in if he's back the next game?

WALLY LONGFELLOW: Oh, I don't think he's going to be back next game. I think the earliest you may see Steph would be game 6. And some of the rumblings I've been hearing out of San Francisco are, it's unlikely that he will play in this series at all. But obviously, a huge factor. I mean, one of the all-time greats, maybe the greatest shooter in the history of the NBA. And they're missing him. There's no question about it.

They're looking for somebody to take over. Jimmy Butler had a so-so night last night, the former Timberwolf who the Warriors traded for midseason. And they did get 23 points off the bench from Jonathan Kuminga. But as you said, that shot right before halftime by Anthony Edwards really changed things. Wolves end up winning by 7, 117-110.

But they outscored Golden State-- so this is coming out of the locker room after halftime-- they outscored them 39 to 17 in the third quarter after trailing by 2 at the half. And I think that there's no question that that shot by Edwards and maybe his halftime speech spurred them on in the third quarter. So immediately, they come out after the half. The 22-point differential in the third quarter, the highest positive point differential for the Wolves in any quarter in their playoff history.

So that was an impressive third quarter. It changed the game. Edwards had 16 points on 6 for 8 shooting in the third quarter, including three more 3-pointers. He finished with 30 points on the night. Julius Randle had 31 points on the night. So the Wolves now lead the series three games to one. They can wrap it up tomorrow night at home. It's an 8:30 game time. So it's a little earlier for you. It's not 9 o'clock. It is at Target Center. Open your window, and you can maybe hear the cheers coming out of Target Center.

NINA MOINI: I'm sure.

WALLY LONGFELLOW: One other little note that I wanted to pass along. In the history of the NBA, when a team leads the best of seven series 3 to 1, they have a very good chance of winning the series. History shows teams leading 3-1 win the series 95.5% of the time. Now, we are Minnesota, and things have happened to us. But the chances are pretty good that they will advance. But still, they still have to win one more game.

NINA MOINI: And, Eric, let's check in on what's going on in the other Western Conference semifinal series because that is who the Wolves might end up facing.

ERIC NELSON: Yeah, exactly. And right now, it's the Nuggets and the Thunder. Those teams are tied at two games apiece. Game 5 tonight in Oklahoma City. Now, the Thunder are the top seed in the West. But they're clearly being pushed by Denver, a team that won the NBA Title two years ago. The Nuggets have a guy known as the Joker, Nikola Jokic, who's one of the top players in the NBA.

The Thunder has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They call him SGA. He's outstanding as well. They also have Chet Holmgren, who played at Minnehaha Academy and went to Gonzaga for one year. So there's a Minnesota connection there. And good news for you too, Nina. They'll tip it off at 8:30 PM tonight, Central Time. Although, that really means 8:40 or 8:45 PM. They never seem to get that thing started right on time.

And I did want to mention, too, because tomorrow night in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, New York takes on Boston. The Knicks lead that one three games to one. Karl Anthony Towns, you may remember him. He played in Minnesota for many years and was a star and then was dealt away for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo before this season. Well, he's with New York. So the Knicks are one win away from going to the Eastern Conference Finals. And the Celtics are the defending champions.

So they could really throw a knockout punch if they eliminate Boston. And here's the incredible irony. And you don't want to put stuff out there until it actually happens. But right now, there's a chance the New York Knicks, the Big Apple, could take on the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Mini Apple, in the NBA Finals. And KAT could see the Timberwolves, and Randle and DiVincenzo could see their old New York buddies. So this would be quite the storyline if it actually happens.

NINA MOINI: Yeah, a bunch of maybe awkward reunions. Who knows, huh?

ERIC NELSON: No question. And the Knicks coach is Tom Thibodeau, who used to be here in Minnesota.

NINA MOINI: I love that. I love to know the behind-the-scenes of what's going on there. But I do want to make sure we get to talk about the professional women's hockey league, the Minnesota Frost. They haven't been around for that many seasons, right? But they're in the same boat right now as the Timberwolves. Tomorrow, if they win their next playoff game against Toronto, they're going to move to the Finals. Catch us up on the Frost, Wally.

WALLY LONGFELLOW: Yeah. Well, they're going to play tomorrow night in what could be a clinching game for them to move into the Championship series of the PWHL. Of course, they won it last year. They won the first Walter Cup. And so they are the defending champions of the league. And this is a team that just barely snuck into the playoffs at the final game of the season.

But they're in. They lead the series two games to one over Toronto. They outscored them on Sunday by a score of 7 to 5. The 12 goals between the two teams is the most ever scored in a PWHL game. 21 different players found the score sheet between the two teams, including 11 multi-point producers. So scoring, that was what you were getting if you were watching them at the Xcel Energy Center on Sunday.

And as much fun as it might be for the fans, the coaches don't really care for that. I saw a quote from the head coach. And he said, that's not exactly what we want. We would rather keep the score down. And so we'll see what happens. But tomorrow night, they could clinch. If there is a game 5 that is necessary, that goes back to Toronto. And that would be on Saturday. And then the winner of this series, whether it be Minnesota or Toronto, will play either Montreal or Ottawa for the championship this year.

NINA MOINI: All right, we'll be tuning in tomorrow for all these games. Or you will be. Wally and Eric, thank you so much. We'll see you back here on Monday.

WALLY LONGFELLOW: All right.

ERIC NELSON: All right. Take care, Nina.

NINA MOINI: Take care. Those are our sports contributors, Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson.