The Minnesota Timberwolves kept Game 4 close, but ultimately lost 128-126 to the Oklahoma City Thunder to fall down 3-1 in the Western Conference Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams had 40 points and 34 points, respectively, while Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle had 16 points and five points. Edwards was limited to just 13 field goal attempts after he excelled in Game 3 with a more aggressive approach.
“I don’t look at it like I struggled, or [Randle] struggled,” Edwards said. “They just, they had a good game plan, making us get off the ball. Especially for me, man. They were super in the gaps, I made the right play all night.”
The Thunder have successfully limited Edwards’ ability to score as he’s averaging just 17.3 shots per game compared to 19.8 in the second round against the Golden State Warriors and 22.4 in the first round against the Los Angeles Lakers.
“It’s an urge that I want to get the ball in the rim, put it up there,” Edwards said. “But you don’t want to take bad shots and get your team out of rhythm. So I was just playing the game the right way, man.”
“I thought second half he was more aggressive,” Chris Finch said. “He got downhill. We got him off the ball a little bit more. When he got to the paint, I thought he found some people, made the right plays. First half, he lagged behind a little bit too much. He needed to get out in front so we could stretch the floor and screen for him a bit. But second half was much better.”