Oklahoma’s tenacity on defense has the Wolves searching for answers offensively as the Timberwolves find themselves in a 2-0 deficit.
It was a joyous atmosphere inside the Paycom Center as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was anointed the league’s most valuable player as the Minnesota Timberwolves eyed an opportunity to play spoiler as they took the court to claim a 1-1 series tie. The energy inside the arena crackled with excitement early and often.
The Timberwolves traded buckets with the Thunder early, with much better flow to the offense. There was a clear emphasis on probing into the painted area, with some possessions, the Wolves pressured the paint multiple times. Jaden McDaniels displayed a shooting stroke early, hitting his first two threes. The Thunder, however, continued to showcase great shotmaking.
Anthony Edwards diligently attacked the paint, but questionable shot selection limited his impact early on. Minnesota missed several open shots, and the Thunder’s pressure routinely sped up the Wolves’ offense as OKC raced ahead to an early lead. As the anxiety back in Minneapolis began to mount, the Timberwolves’ esteemed bench trio found their mojo to keep the game close.
Donte DiVincenzo relocation 3, assisted by Julius Randle pic.twitter.com/suv5wCvHrE
— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) May 23, 2025
Jalen Williams was outstanding, lighting up the Timberwolves’ half-court defense with a masterclass from the midrange. Furthermore, newly crowned MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander percolated. Fortunately for Minnesota, the Thunder missed several opportunities from deep with the potential to break the game, shooting 4-20 from deep in the half.
Inspired by the bench unit, Anthony Edwards settled into the game on his way to 16 in the half by slicing through what felt like the entire Oklahoma City organization on the way to the rim.
Anthony Edwards transition driving layup through contact pic.twitter.com/LjAfGCbTzt
— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) May 23, 2025
Just when it felt like the Timberwolves had weathered the storm, a Donte DiVincenzo illegal screen set up a 5-0 Thunder run in the final minute to send the Wolves into halftime down 50-58.
Minnesota punched back out of the half, as the Thunder continued their struggles from deep. Julius Randle, who posted a paltry two points in the first half, discovered his scoring touch. He took it to his matchup and imposed his strength in the post. The Wolves fought their way to within four, but a storm engulfed Minnesota as the Thunder imposed their will on the game.
The rain gave way to a downpour, as the Thunder crackled across the court, leaving the Timberwolves with little room to operate. Turnovers and inconsistent shotmaking led to yet another 3rd quarter avalanche to Oklahoma City, who would win the quarter 35-21. The defensive pressure was too much for the Timberwolves to handle, who suddenly found themselves looking up at a 22-point deficit heading into the 4th. Minnesota would need a miracle to pull out a much-needed win in Game 2.
The Timberwolves continued to play hard, cutting into the deficit down the stretch. However, it proved to be too little, too late, as the Thunder coasted to a game two victory.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have found themselves down 2-0 in the Western Conference Finals.
Box Score
Key Takeaways
Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
Minnesota continues to get sped up
Oklahoma City’s defensive pressure overwhelmed Minnesota from start to finish. Every drive and pass felt as if the Timberwolves were dancing on a razor’s edge. Minnesota committed 14 turnovers, while the Thunder forced 9 steals on the night. It was nonstop tenacity for 48 minutes. Every rebound was contested, and even when Minnesota secured the ball, the Thunder were lurking to strike and force the ball free.
Oklahoma City fueled their offense with their defense, adding in the shot-making from the midrange, and the Timberwolves didn’t have an answer for the Thunder’s dynamic duo of Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who combined for 64 points on an efficient 24-41 shooting.
Minnesota will need to find a way to knock Oklahoma City off its game if it’s going to find its way back into the series.
Timberwolves’ top 8 falls short
In a concerning trend, the Timberwolves have struggled to find their outside yet again. The Wolves would go 11-39 from deep and a measly 41.4% from the floor. The Timberwolves need to hit their open shots to spread the Thunder defensively. You need someone else to come to the party with Anthony Edwards. Jaden McDaniels chipped in with 22, but for a team that’s boasted the talent of their top 8 all year, it’s been a frustrating playoffs for the Timberwolves’ others.
Donte DiVincenzo was a -27 on the night, and it’s been a brutal postseason for the former Knick. Rudy Gobert, who’s been outstanding defensively, has been ushered to the bench due to the Timberwolves’ inability to keep pace on offense. The Thunder have forced the Timberwolves to search for offense, putting Minnesota in a position to play outside its comfort zone. You must keep the game close so Gobert can impose his will defensively.
At some point, you must consider going further down your bench to find someone who can make shots. Jalen Clark got some run due to foul trouble in game 1, but Terrence Shannon Jr. remains an option should Minnesota continue to struggle finding offense from their regular rotation.
Final Thoughts
Ouch, that one hurts. Minnesota heads home searching for an answer to flip this series upside down. The Thunder have asserted their dominance through two games and protected their home court. Their suffocating defense forced Minnesota to live uncomfortably all series long.
You need to see Minnesota punch back and find its offensive rhythm. You need to hit your open looks and continue forcing the Thunder to make tough shots. This is not over yet, but we’re about to discover what this Timberwolves team is made of.
Up Next
The series heads back to Minnesota for Game 3 on Saturday as the Wolves look to avoid going down 3-0, a deficit no NBA team has ever overcome. The game tips off at Target Center at 7:30 PM CT, airing on ABC.