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Summary:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 40 points, helping the Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-126 in Game 4.
- Thunder overcame a Game 3 blowout with high-pressure defense and clutch shooting.
- The Timberwolves struggled with turnovers; Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle were held in check by the Oklahoma defense.
Oklahoma City Thunder left its Game 3 nightmare firmly in the rearview Monday night, responding in a big way with a thrilling 128-126 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.
Following a lopsided loss just two nights earlier, coach Mark Daigneault’s side bounced back with the kind of energetic defense and star-powered offense that’s carried them all postseason.
The victory puts them up 3-1 in the series, with a chance to clinch an NBA Finals spot in Game 5 at home on Wednesday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) delivered a masterclass, notching a career playoff-high 40 points to go along with 10 assists and nine rebounds.
That was touuugghhh, @shaiglalex 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/7yOcevwtQ8
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 27, 2025
The 26-year-old Torontonian’s performance helped neutralize a quiet night from Timberwolves star Anthony “Ant-Man” Edwards, who finished with just 16 points on 13 shots.
SGA: “We’re On the Top of Everybody’s Radar”
From the opening tip, OKC’s defense swarmed Minnesota, forcing seven turnovers in the first quarter alone.
That effort stifled Edwards, who didn’t take his first shot until the final seconds of the quarter.
“This is why he’s called a free-throw merchant”, ESPN’s Doris Burke remarked after one of several fouls drawn by Gilgeous-Alexander. The crowd echoed that sentiment with taunting chants whenever he stepped to the line.
In response, Gilgeous-Alexander was unfazed:
In terms of the label, I don’t care. I never cared. … I think because we’re on the top of everybody’s radar, it’s a little more noticeable and now people care about it. I kind of see it as a compliment.
Oklahoma City needed every bit of that calm confidence. Despite dealing with 21 turnovers, Minnesota stayed within striking distance thanks to hot shooting from Nickeil Alexander-Walker (23 points) and Donte DiVincenzo (21 points), both hitting 5-of-8 from deep.
A few key fourth-quarter runs kept the tension high, but each time the Timberwolves got close, OKC answered.
Jalen Williams added 34 points and a clutch three late in the fourth, while Chet Holmgren chipped in 21 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks.
Together, they formed a trio that Minnesota had a hard time matching. Edwards struggled against the defensive pressure of Luguentz Dort, and Julius Randle was nearly invisible with just five points on 1-of-7 shooting.
After their Game 3 disaster, the Thunder again looked like the team that rolled through Memphis and Denver. One more win, and they’ll be heading to the NBA Finals.
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