Game 3 was a hard fought battle between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs that ended with the Spurs as the victors 115-108 to go up 2-1 in the Western Conference Semifinals. 

Victor Wembanyama exploded for 39 points to lead the game, but despite the strong performance for the Spurs' biggest star, it rarely looked like the Timberwolves were out of the game. 

With as little as six minutes left in the game, the Timberwolves were trailing just 99-98 and were poised to take off on a run that could have given them the lead and created separation near the end of the game. 

Instead, it was the Spurs that took off on a run. They outscored the Timberwolves 15-10 through the end of the game and it seemed like no mater what Minnesota did to get an advantage and get back into the game, the Spurs were always able to respond and nullify any progress that Minnesota made.

It was that inability to hold the Spurs back that's left Ayo Dosunmu most disappointed with the way that his team played in the final stretch of the game.

"I don't think we had a good sense of urgency," Dosunmu said (via Timberwolves). "It was too many times where we made a shot and they came came right back and got a good look. So, we've got to do a better job of matching up and do a better job of controlling the point of attack and not let them live off of attacking us."

If there's anything that defines the Timberwolves, it's their ability to fight back when the odds are stacked against them. That was the case in the opening series against the Denver Nuggets, where it seemed like no Denver lead was safe as the Timberwolves battled back time and time again.

But, as good as being to respond when their down is, limiting a subsequent response from the Spurs is just as important and that's something the Timberwolves have shown they were unable to do in Game 3. 

The effort they've shown throughout the series is a good sign that the Timberwolves aren't out of this series yet, but as good as they've been at picking up their own slack, tight games are just as much about what your opponents can't do as they are what you can do. 

The Timberwolves have a few days to respond before Game 4 tips off and it seems like increasing their sense of urgency so as to not give the Spurs another inch will be at the top of their list of priorities.