In a thrilling matchup that set the tone for the Western Conference Finals, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder to a convincing 114-88 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1. The star guard showed resilience, scoring 20 of his game-high 31 points in the second half, turning the tide after a sluggish start. Following the game, he emphasized his commitment to aggression and trust in his preparation, stating, “I didn’t particularly change my mindset, honestly. I just tried to continue to be aggressive, trust my work.”
Julius Randle was the standout for the Timberwolves with 28 points, but his impact waned in the second half as he managed just eight points. Young star Anthony Edwards, who had been lighting it up with an average of 26.5 points per game in the playoffs, faced tougher defensive pressure as he finished with 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting. Edwards acknowledged the adjustments he needs to make moving forward, indicating a need for a more off-ball approach. “I definitely got to shoot more. I took 13 shots, but I’ll say probably just get off the ball a little more. Play without the ball. I think that would be the answer, because playing on the ball, they’re just going to double and sit in the gaps all day,” he remarked.
The Timberwolves certainly had their work cut out for them, with Edwards noting the Thunder’s strategy to clog the paint defensively. He anticipated Minnesota’s ability to counter this by finding ways to exploit spacing in future games. “They bank on us not making shots, I guess, because every time I go to the rim, it’s like four people,” he explained. “They put like five, four bodies in the paint, make you kick it out. So keep making the right play.”
Oklahoma City’s performance came on the heels of a grueling Game 7 victory over Denver just two days prior, while Minnesota had the luxury of a full week off in between series. This rest appeared beneficial for the Timberwolves early on, as they held a slim lead at halftime, 48-44, largely thanks to Randle’s scorching first half, where he netted 20 points with an impressive 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander found himself stymied, scoring only 11 points on 2-of-13 shooting before the break.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault took encouragement from his team’s ability to stay close despite a poor offensive output in the first half. “For us to play as poorly as we did offensively in the first half and be down four was a major victory for us at halftime,” he said.
The turning point came in the third quarter, where Oklahoma City went on a decisive 10-0 run, seizing a 66-60 lead. Kenrich Williams, not typically in the spotlight this postseason, provided critical contributions with a midrange jumper and a three-pointer on consecutive possessions that extended the Thunder’s lead to 71-62. That quarter saw the Thunder dominate, outscoring the Timberwolves 32-18 and establishing a solid 76-66 advantage heading into the final frame.
In an electrifying play that showcased both skill and crowd excitement, Chet Holmgren delivered a spinning dunk, driving the momentum further in favor of Oklahoma City. Gilgeous-Alexander capped off another dynamic play with an acrobatic and-one that rolled in as he fell to the floor, pushing the score to 91-77 with just seven minutes remaining.
Despite the loss, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch remained pragmatic, acknowledging the Thunder’s strong performance. “It’s Game 1,” he said. “They won at home. Congrats to them. They played really well. There’s another game in two days.” With Game 2 on the horizon, adjustments will be key for Minnesota as they seek to bounce back and regain momentum in this competitive series.
