The Timberwolves boarded their flight back to Minnesota following two losses in Oklahoma City. For the second straight year, they were in the Western Conference Finals. Just like last year, they lost the first two games. In 2024, they lost Game 3 before a Timberwolves victory in Game 4 postponed their elimination for one more night. They eventually fell in five games at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks.
The mood on the flight back could’ve been dour. There was an inevitability about the Thunder. They were ruthless on defense, surgical on offense, and played with an energy that Minnesota had yet to match. But Anthony Edwards wasn’t ready to mail it in yet. He had firsthand experience, from last year’s series against the Denver Nuggets. In that second round matchup, the Wolves went up 2-0, only to see Denver storm back, winning the next three. Heading back to Target Center, anything was possible.
Timberwolves Falter in Game 4 Loss After Record-Setting Game 3
Game 3 Ends in Record-Setting Rout
Minnesota jumped out of the gate ready to roll in Game 3. There was an activity about them that was missing from the first two contests. The defense was Thunder-like, swarming and suffocating, forcing OKC into five first quarter turnovers en route to a 20-point lead after 12 minutes. The Wolves never looked back. They scored 72 points in the first half, a new franchise playoff record for any half in their 36-year history. In the second half, the home team didn’t let up despite leading by more than 30 for most of the period. Instead, Minnesota nearly one-upped themselves, adding on 71 more points in the final 24 minutes. The final score of 143-101 made a statement, one that Julius Randle bellowed to the raucous crowd: “We home now!”
Despite Hot Shooting, Minnesota’s Mistakes Cost Them Game 4
Looking at the final score, 128-126, it would be easy to assume that Game 4 was a back-and-forth affair. The teams had played three straight blowouts, so a close game was a welcome sight for neutral fans. But in reality, this was another dominant outing by the Thunder, who never trailed after falling behind 15-14 in the first quarter. Minnesota once tied the score at 79, got as close as two points in the fourth, but could never get over the hump. Every time they closed to within a single possession, the Thunder would knock down another three, grab another offensive rebound, or force another turnover. It meant that despite shooting over 50% from the field and making 18 triples, the Timberwolves still managed to lose. It was the first time in NBA playoff history that a team lost in which they hit those marks, having gone 55-0 until last night. That’s what happens when a team allows 19 offensive rebounds and turns the ball over 21 times.
In Starters’ Struggles, the Bench Showed Up
In Game 4, the Timberwolves finally got the production from their bench that they had been waiting for all series. The Thunder are incredibly deep, with contributors littering their second unit, but Minnesota would pit their reserves against any backup crew in the league. Through three games, it was the defensive prowess of OKC’s bench that shone through, but finally in Game 4, the Timberwolves flexed their offensive muscle. Minnesota got 64 points from their bench, including leading scorer Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who did his best to keep up with his cousin, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (40 points, a playoff career high). Alexander-Walker’s 5/8 shooting from distance was matched by Donte DiVincenzo. Newly inserted rookie Terrence Shannon Jr. made the most of his limited minutes for the second straight game. His 15 points in Game 3 was followed by 9 in Game 4, an unexpected boost from someone who had barely played in the first 12 games of this postseason.
Down 3-1, Stars Need to Bounce Back
But the bench’s effort was all for naught, as Randle and Edwards never made the impact they did in Game 3. The two stars combined for just 21 points and 10 turnovers. The Thunder were determined to make the others beat them, and although they nearly did, it wasn’t enough.
After the game, Edwards defended his approach, saying, “I made the right play all night, so I don’t really look at it like I struggled. I didn’t get enough shots to say I struggled.” OKC has so many defenders to throw at the young superstar, it’s never going to be easy get shots. At some point, he just needs to take over and carry the team on his back, like he did in the first quarter of Game 3. Now, with the season on the line, he has to find another gear if he wants to return to Target Center for Game 6.
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