Game 3, Western Conference Finals. You can practically taste the tension, can’t you? Every single dribble, every squeak of sneakers, every shot feels like it could shift the entire universe. The Minnesota Timberwolves are backed into a corner, staring down a 0-2 hole against a red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder team that’s looking like they’ve got their sights firmly set on the NBA Finals. For the Wolves? It’s do or die. For OKC? They’re smelling blood in the water. In moments like these, knowing who’s lacing up and who’s in street clothes isn’t just some minor detail – it’s everything. It’s the kind of news that can make or break a team’s spirit.
So, as the Timberwolves gear up for this absolute monster of a game on their home floor, every single fan is holding their breath, wondering about their big man in the middle, their defensive cornerstone, Rudy Gobert.
Timberwolves vs. OKC injury report: clarity for Game 3
Okay, Minnesota fans, you can breathe a little easier. The word is in, and Rudy Gobert is good to go for tonight’s absolutely massive Game 3 against the Thunder. The big fella’s name is nowhere to be found on the team’s official injury list. And get this – in what’s got to be a pretty decent sign for a team trying to dig out of an 0-2 ditch, the entire Timberwolves injury report is blank. Nada. Zilch. That means Coach Chris Finch has all his guys, including his 4x DPOY, ready to roll as they try to flip this series on its head.
Over on the Thunder side, things are looking pretty clean, too. Their report only has one name on it: rookie guard Nikola Topic. Now, Topic’s been out with a knee injury since way back in January. So, his absence isn’t really shaking up their playoff rotation. So, bottom line? Both squads are coming into this pivotal Game 3 with their main guys healthy and available. No excuses, just pure basketball.
Beyond the box score: Rudy Gobert’s pre-game humor and the weight of the moment
Now, while knowing Gobert’s playing is obviously huge for the Wolves, let’s not forget that these playoff pressure-cookers also bring out the, uh, human side of these superhuman athletes. And sometimes, it’s pretty hilarious. Case in point: Rudy Gobert. Just before the incredibly tense Game 2 (a game the Wolves really needed), decided to give the internet a little gift.
Our man Rudy, known more for swatting shots into the third row than for his silky handles, was spotted trying out an ambitious two-ball dribbling routine during warm-ups. Just picturing the 7-foot-1 giant trying to juggle two basketballs is funny enough, but then he kinda… lost them. Both of them.
It was a quick, fumbling moment, but you know how social media is – it was everywhere in seconds, with fans having a good laugh. It was a little reminder that these guys are people, even if they can do things with a basketball that most of us can only dream of.
— ayub (@yubwrld) May 23, 2025
But it’s not just about a funny blooper. Those pre-game rituals, no matter how weird they look, are all about these guys trying to get locked in. Maybe for Gobert, wrestling with two basketballs was his way of sharpening his focus, or just shaking off some of that insane pressure. When your team is down 0-2 to a squad like OKC, with MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carving everyone up, you’re looking for any mental edge you can find. For the Timberwolves, facing this deficit, it’s crystal clear they need to bring their absolute A-game tonight. No more slip-ups, no more missed opportunities – it’s win or face an almost insurmountable climb.
But with Gobert officially in, the jokes and pre-game antics are over. Now it’s all about what happens on the court. Can his defense actually disrupt what OKC wants to do? Can the Wolves, with everyone available, finally figure out this Thunder team? Tonight’s the night we start to find out if Minnesota can make this a series, or if OKC takes another giant step towards the Finals.
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