OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the second half to surge past the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday night, riding a strong performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a suffocating defensive effort.
After a cold start, Gilgeous-Alexander came alive after halftime, scoring 20 of his 31 points in the final two quarters. The All-NBA guard shot just 2-for-13 in the first half but rebounded with an 8-of-14 shooting display in the second.
“I didn’t really change anything mentally,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Just kept being aggressive and trusted the work I’ve put in.”
The Thunder, who were fresh off a grueling Game 7 win over Denver, shook off early offensive struggles and outscored the Timberwolves 70-40 in the second half. Oklahoma City now holds a 1-0 lead in the series with Game 2 set for Thursday night, again on their home floor.
Timberwolves Falter After Halftime:
Minnesota, coming off a week of rest, started strong and held a narrow 48-44 lead at the break. Julius Randle led the way early, scoring 20 points in the first half and knocking down five of six attempts from deep. However, he managed just eight points the rest of the way as Oklahoma City clamped down defensively.
Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves’ playoff star so far, struggled to find rhythm. Limited to 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting, Edwards was often met by multiple defenders on drives to the basket.
“They’re collapsing the paint,” Edwards said. “Every time I go to the rim, I see four guys. I’ve got to move better without the ball and just keep making the right play.”
Despite his struggles, Edwards said he’s ready to adjust after reviewing the film.
Thunder Turn the Tide in the Third:
Oklahoma City took control in the third quarter with a decisive 10-0 run, transforming a 60-56 deficit into a 66-60 lead. Bench contributor Kenrich Williams, who had seen limited minutes this postseason, provided a surprise spark with a jumper and a three-pointer on back-to-back possessions.
The Thunder outscored Minnesota 32-18 in the third to build a 10-point lead heading into the final period.
Chet Holmgren brought the crowd to its feet with a spinning, in-traffic dunk that stretched the lead to 11. Moments later, Gilgeous-Alexander completed a highlight-reel three-point play after drawing contact and flipping in an off-balance shot while falling to the floor, pushing the lead to 91-77 with seven minutes remaining.
Coach’s Reaction:
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised his team’s resilience after a slow start.
“To be down just four at halftime, considering how rough we were offensively, was huge,” he said.
Minnesota coach Chris Finch kept the loss in perspective.
“It’s just Game 1. They did their job and won at home,” Finch said. “We’ll regroup and be ready for Thursday.”
