Shaquille O'Neal Sounds Off On Minnesota Timberwolves Star

Shaquille O'Neal called out Karl-Anthony Towns after Game 3.

May 26, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Shaquille O'Neal before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves in game three of the western conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

On Sunday evening, the Minnesota Timberwolves played the Dallas Mavericks (in Texas) for Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.

The game was close, but the Mavs won by a score of 116-107 to take a 3-0 lead in the series.

All-Star forward Karl-Anthony Towns struggled and finished the loss with 14 points, 11 rebounds and three assists while shooting 5/18 from the field and 0/8 from the three-point range in 38 minutes of playing time.

After the game, Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal sounded off on Towns (via the NBA on TNT).

O'Neal: "Karl-Anthony Towns has not stepped up. 0/8 from three is unacceptable. After you shoot two threes and it don’t go down take your big a** in the lane and do what Chuck has been talking about."

“KAT has not stepped up. 0/8 from three is unacceptable. After you shoot two threes and it don’t go down take your big ass in the lane and do what Chuck has been talking about.”

Shaq on KAT’s Game 3 performance pic.twitter.com/cjal1IBNSN

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 27, 2024

Towns is the second best player on the Timberwolves, and he finished the regular season with averages of 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest while shooting 50.4% from the field and 41.6% from the three-point range in 62 games.

The Timberwolves are the third seed in the Western Conference with a 56-26 record.

They beat the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets in the first two rounds of the NBA playoffs.

May 26, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) controls the ball against Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (21) in the second half during game three of the western conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Game 4 of the series will be on Tuesday evening (also in Dallas, Texas).

Whoever wins the series will advance to the NBA Finals and face off against either the Boston Celtics or the Indiana Pacers. 

The Celtics lead the Pacers 3-0 with Game 4 on Monday evening in Indiana.