The Timberwolves simply had to win on Saturday night because coming back from 3-0 down against this Thunder team would be almost impossible.

One could argue that Game 4 is also a must-win, otherwise, the series will return to Oklahoma City with the home team holding a 3-1 advantage.

Naz Reid reflected on the Timberwolves’ start to the Western Conference Finals so far, and what Anthony Edwards prevents from happening when the going gets tough.

Photo by David Berding/Getty Images

Reid is one of the most important bench players in the entire NBA. He consistently puts up around 15 points and six rebounds on efficient shooting.

However, the 25-year-old has only scored 24 points in the three combined Western Conference Finals games.

Reid was asked after the Timberwolves’ Game 3 victory, in which he scored 10 points in 19 minutes, whether he gets down after disappointing performances.

His answer proved that Edwards is blossoming as the team’s leader, not only on the court but also behind the scenes.

“Nah, I never beat myself up,” he said. “I mean, especially being around Ant, you never really get down on yourself.

“Games come and go. A great night will come, and the next day, you might have a bad night. You’ve just got to try to find a way to be consistent.

“I think I’ve been pretty consistent throughout the playoffs, and to myself, I’m thinking, ‘They’ll fall. Shots will fall.’ As long as I’m doing other things to stay on the court, that’s all that matters.”

The Timberwolves must use the 42-point blowout win as a stepping stone heading into Game 4. They will need to replicate the same intensity to stand a chance.

After going down in such an embarrassing fashion, particularly with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring just 14 points, the Thunder will likely have a point to prove on Monday night.

“This is just the first step in the right direction,” Reid explained. “We’ve got a lot more basketball to play and a lot more hard work to accomplish. So we’re all ready to do that.

“We got the win tonight, and we’ve got to carry this mentality and aggression we had tonight over to Monday.”

It’s about time Reid had another 20-point performance in these NBA Playoffs, and there would be no better time to deliver.