After torching the Minnesota Timberwolves for two straight games, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stepped into Game 3 on Saturday, May 24, with sky-high hopes. Fresh off his MVP win and a first-team All-NBA nod, the spotlight was firmly on him.
But Anthony Edwards and Co. had other plans. They completely shut down the Oklahoma City Thunder’s offense and unleashed a storm of their own, led by Julius Randle’s fire and the Target Center crowd’s fury. And yes, the crowd made sure SGA heard it.
Timberwolves Fans Taunt Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Game 3 Beatdown
With the Timberwolves facing the threat of going down 0-3 in the series, they responded with the kind of urgency fans had been hoping to see. By halftime, Minnesota led 72-41 in what looked more like a regular-season blowout than a high-stakes Western Conference finals clash. The fans at Target Center were fired up, and when Gilgeous-Alexander stepped to the free-throw line, they let loose.
Free-throw merchant chants echoed loudly across the arena, aimed squarely at the Thunder star.
Timberwolves fans chanting “FREE THROW MERCHANT” at SGA 😭😭😭
— Curry Flurry 😈 (@babyfacedubs)
It wasn’t a random insult. SGA’s ability to draw fouls and get to the line is a key part of his game and a hot topic of debate among NBA fans. While some praise his craftiness, others argue he leans too heavily on drawing contact. Even ESPN’s Doris Burke alluded to that narrative earlier in the series, pointing out his frequent trips to the charity stripe.
SGA at the line @Timberwolves changing “free throw merchant” pic.twitter.com/eFPYshYWr4
— Chenue Her (@ChenueHer)
But this time, the MVP couldn’t respond as usual. Gilgeous-Alexander finished the night with a quiet 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting, including 2-of-5 from deep. Sure, he was a perfect 4-of-4 from the line, but that was hardly enough to shift the tide in OKC’s favor. Minnesota cruised to a dominant 143-101 win, slicing the Thunder’s series lead to 2-1.
As loud as the chants were during Game 3, it wasn’t the first time Timberwolves fans had taken aim at SGA’s free-throw game. Back in February, fans unleashed the same “free throw merchant” chant at him during a regular-season matchup. That night, Gilgeous-Alexander struggled from the field (6-of-21 shooting) but managed 24 points thanks to 11 free throws.
He couldn’t help but smile then, clearly amused by the crowd’s creativity. This time, however, he had no such reaction. Maybe it was the 42-point deficit. Maybe it was frustration over his own performance. Whatever the reason, SGA looked more flustered than fired up.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves played like a team with their backs against the wall. Anthony Edwards dropped 30 points with ease, while Randle bounced back from a rough Game 2 and put up 24 points in 30 minutes. The Thunder defense had no answers, and their offense fell flat, with SGA at the center of it all.
The series now shifts to Game 4, slated for Monday, May 26, and with it, the pressure swings back to Oklahoma City.
