The Target Center’s roar swelled like a gathering storm, each clap and chant crackling with anticipation. Could Minnesota’s untested rookie, Terrence Shannon Jr., truly match up against the league’s brightest star? By the end of his first spell on the floor, the answer was emphatically yes.
In just 13 minutes, Shannon Jr. exploded for 15 points, surpassing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 14 points. The Wolves rookie left the MVP behind as Minnesota poured in a franchise-record 72 first-half points en route to a 143-101 rout of the Thunder on May 24, 2025.
Terrence Shannon Jr. Steals Spotlight From SGA in Electrifying Bench Outburst
From the opening tip, Minnesota poured it on, establishing a franchise playoff record with 72 first-half points. But it was Shannon’s brief yet explosive cameo—15 points on 6-for-8 shooting in just 13 minutes—that had pundits and fans alike rubbing their eyes.
Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals will be remembered as the night Minnesota cut Oklahoma City’s series lead to 2–1 with a commanding 143–101 victory.
Anthony Edwards powered the rout with 30 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in only three quarters, and Julius Randle added 24 points of his own.
Yet it was the bench brilliance that stole headlines. Coach Chris Finch emptied his reserves early, and Shannon Jr. answered the call with efficiency and energy rarely seen from a rookie.
The Illinois product’s sensational run coincided with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s (SGA) uncharacteristically quiet outing. Just 14 points on 4-for-13 shooting, SGA struggled to find rhythm.
Fresh off an MVP award and averaging over 32.7 points per game in the 2024-2025 season, SGA struggled to find daylight. Oklahoma City’s guard, known for his pull-up threes and relentless drives, went 4-for-13 from the floor before exiting early in the third quarter.
On social media, the reaction was instantaneous. “Deserves more minutes,” one X fan raged, echoing a sentiment felt throughout the arena.
Deserves more minutes
— Nate Jackson (@natejackson27) May 25, 2025
Over on X/Twitter, Timberwolves supporters praised his reckless abandon. “They needed this spark off the bench, Big Physical Athletic presence,” another fan said.
One other fan commented, “Can we get a tsj vs okc cut up? he had his best game of his career against them earlier this year too.”
Even veteran voices around the league took notice. Commentators wondered aloud how a player so polished at 24 had flown under the radar all season.
With the series shifting back to Minneapolis for Game 4 on Monday, curiosity will center on whether Shannon Jr.’s minutes will expand. Minnesota’s core—led by Edwards, Randle, and Rudy Gobert—has carried the team thus far, but the 24-year-old’s display revealed a dynamic weapon off the bench.
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For Oklahoma City, they must rediscover their defensive identity or risk watching another bench player steal their thunder. If the Wolves lean into Shannon Jr.’s sparkplug style, they could add a new wrinkle to Thunder’s top-ranked defense.
As the Wolves look to seize control of the series, one thing is certain. Fans will be chanting for more minutes, long before Terrence Shannon Jr. even checks in.