Game 4 Preview: Timberwolves vs. Thunder

The Timberwolves pounced in Game 3 and dominated the Thunder from start to finish. It will take an even bigger effort in Game 4 to take down a motivated Thunder team and tie the series.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder – Game 4
Date: May 26th, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM CDT
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: ESPN/ESPN2
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM/Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Game 4 or Bust: The Wolves’ Moment of Truth

Let’s rewind to Friday morning. The Timberwolves were down 0-2 in the Western Conference Finals, and every talking head from Stephen A. to some dude on TikTok was busy writing their eulogy. The national consensus? Minnesota had blown their shot. Game 2 was a disaster. Game 1 was an officiating clinic gone wrong. Anthony Edwards looked tentative, Julius Randle looked rattled, and the Wolves as a whole looked like a team that had wandered into the wrong movie.

But here’s the thing about the NBA Playoffs: narratives flip fast. Like, “Kevin Spacey drops the coffee mug and limps out of the police station”… fast.

And then Game 3 happened.

The Wolves unleashed a performance so dominant, so thorough, so soul-snatching, that it flipped this series on its head. They didn’t just win—they hunted. They brought that snarling, chaotic, heat-check energy that makes them the most dangerous team in the West. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t polite. It was a 48-minute beatdown that felt like the basketball version of a Quentin Tarantino revenge flick.

So now, the mission is simple: Don’t let Game 3 be the peak. Game 4 is the moment of truth.

Because if the Wolves win? Series tied, momentum swinging, and all the pressure flips back to OKC. But if they lose? Down 3-1 heading back on the road, staring down history, hoping for miracles. And history’s not kind to teams who drop Game 4 at home.

Here’s how Minnesota can make sure this becomes a turning point and not a footnote:

Key #1: Defense Like It’s Your Job (Because It Is)

Let’s be real. Game 3 was Minnesota’s best defensive performance of the playoffs. Maybe of the year. Maybe ever. They didn’t just defend—they swarmed. They made SGA look mortal. They made OKC’s half-court offense look like a bunch of guys trying to solve a Rubik’s cube underwater.

The adjustment was simple and brilliant: get the ball out of SGA’s hands. Force Cason Wallace and Lu Dort to make plays.

And guess what? They couldn’t.

Jaden McDaniels was the tip of the spear—a long, wiry chaos merchant who finally found the balance between aggression and control. He didn’t just stay out of foul trouble; he locked in. It was a defensive masterclass. The Wolves didn’t over-rotate. They didn’t bite on fakes. They were surgical.

Now, OKC will adjust. You know Mark Daigneault is watching film like he’s breaking down the Zapruder tape. But the Wolves can’t get cute. Stick with what works. Keep the pressure high. Shrink the court. Turn SGA into a passer. And if you can frustrate him again early? That ripple effect will neutralize OKC’s whole offensive rhythm.

Key #2: Control the Glass

Game 3 rebounding stats: Minnesota 50, OKC 31.

That’s not a typo. That’s a beatdown. That’s Mike Tyson in his prime. That’s KG barking after a putback.

Rudy Gobert, for all the criticism, finally played like a former Defensive Player of the Year. He boxed out. He altered shots. He didn’t fumble passes like they were hand grenades. He kept Chet Holmgren off the boards. And most importantly, he gave Minnesota second chances and erased OKC’s.

Julius Randle and Naz Reid followed suit. Everyone crashed. Everyone hustled.

Rebounding isn’t sexy, but it wins playoff games. Especially against a finesse team like OKC. If Minnesota can win the possession battle again, they’ll control the tempo. And when they control the tempo? They’re terrifying.

Key #3: Protect the Ball

Turnovers were the dagger in Games 1 and 2. Lazy passes. Cross-court prayers. Weak handles. It was like watching an improv troupe try to play organized basketball.

Game 3? Different story. Only 10 turnovers. Crisp ball movement. Ant played like a floor general. Conley stabilized. Even Randle, who usually coughs it up like it’s allergy season, was mistake-free.

OKC thrives on chaos. They want transition buckets. They want fast breaks and loose balls. Minnesota took all of that away. That’s how you keep the Thunder grounded. Turn them into a half-court team, and they start looking a lot more beatable.

Key #4: Keep the Shooters Hot (Or at Least Warm)

Let’s not kid ourselves—Game 3 was a shooting outlier. The Wolves couldn’t miss. Ant was hitting step-backs. TSJ came in like a microwave. Even Luka Garza got buckets. It was beautiful.

But they don’t need to shoot 57% again to win Game 4. They just need to be normal.

Make open threes. Take smart shots. Play inside-out. Keep the Thunder honest. If Donte DiVincenzo can hit a couple threes, if Naz can stretch the floor, if Conley can hit a timely pull-up—suddenly OKC’s defense starts to bend.

Don’t settle, but don’t go cold. Somewhere between Game 1 brick-fest and Game 3 heat-check is all the Wolves need.

Key #5: Ant and Randle—Be the Stars Again

Ant’s Game 3? That was the Anthony Edwards game. 30 points in 30 minutes. Two first-quarter steals that set the tone. Five made threes. Swagger. Emotion. Control.

He wasn’t just scoring. He was dominating.

Julius Randle? Quietly had 24 points and zero turnovers. Played within himself. Attacked mismatches. Didn’t settle. This is the version of Julius the Wolves have to get. Especially when the game tightens up.

If both guys show up again—and they don’t have to be perfect, just great together—Minnesota can outgun OKC. The Thunder have depth, but they don’t have a combo like this when it’s clicking.

Ant is the engine. Randle is the hammer. They need both.

Conclusion: This Is the Game That Decides the Series

The NBA playoffs are full of turning points. Game 4 is Minnesota’s.

Win, and you’ve flipped the narrative, tied the series, and dragged OKC into a real dogfight. The Wolves will have the belief. The pressure will be back on the Thunder. And suddenly, this goes from “gentleman’s sweep” to “anyone’s series.”

Lose, and you’re down 3-1 heading back to OKC. Hope starts to dwindle. You need perfection to survive. And the basketball gods don’t usually reward desperation.

This isn’t just a game. It’s a referendum. On who the Timberwolves are. On what this team is made of. On whether this playoff run was due to fortunate matchups against shallow rosters or the beginning of something special.

Game 3 showed us what the Wolves can be.

Game 4 will show us if they’re ready to be that team consistently.

There will be thunder. There will be pressure. There will be doubt.

Time for the Wolves to show us their bite again.

Let’s get it.