Thunder Crush Timberwolves 114-88 in Game 1/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 31 points as Oklahoma City beat Minnesota 114-88 in Game 1. The Thunder surged after halftime, while Anthony Edwards struggled under heavy defensive pressure. Game 2 is set for Thursday in OKC.
Thunder vs. Timberwolves: Game 1 Quick Looks
- Final Score: Thunder 114, Timberwolves 88 in Game 1 of West Finals
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Scored 20 of his 31 points in the second half
- Thunder Surge: Outscored Minnesota 32-18 in the third quarter
- Anthony Edwards Held in Check: 18 points on 5-for-13 shooting
- Julius Randle: Had 28 points but only 8 after halftime
- Kenrich Williams: Provided key third-quarter spark off the bench
- Paint Presence: Thunder clogged the lane and forced Timberwolves to the perimeter
- Postgame Soundbite: “They played really well,” said Timberwolves coach Chris Finch
- Series Standing: Thunder lead 1-0; Game 2 Thursday in Oklahoma City
Deep Look: Thunder Roll Past Rested Timberwolves Behind Gilgeous-Alexander’s Second-Half Burst
OKLAHOMA CITY — May 21, 2025 — The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t look like a team still recovering from a grueling seven-game series. Led by a second-half explosion from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder routed the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the MVP candidate, overcame a sluggish first half to finish with 31 points, including 20 after halftime, as the Thunder used a dominating third-quarter run to seize control of the game and the series opener.
“I didn’t particularly change my mindset,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I just tried to continue to be aggressive and trust my work.”
Thunder Find Their Gear in the Third Quarter
Trailing 48-44 at halftime, the Thunder flipped the script in the second half. A 10-0 run midway through the third gave Oklahoma City a 66-60 lead. The turning point came when Kenrich Williams, rarely used in the postseason, buried a midrange jumper and a three-pointer on back-to-back possessions, energizing the home crowd and sparking a dominant stretch.
The Thunder outscored the Timberwolves 32-18 in the third quarter and never looked back.
Minnesota’s Stars Struggle to Adjust
Despite a hot start from Julius Randle, who scored 20 of his 28 points in the first half, the Timberwolves looked rusty after a week-long layoff. Anthony Edwards, who had been averaging 26.5 points in the postseason, was held to just 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting.
“I definitely got to shoot more,” Edwards admitted. “I think I’ve got to play off the ball more, too. Every time I go to the rim it’s like four people there.”
The Thunder’s defense packed the paint, challenging Minnesota to beat them from the outside. Edwards said he plans to review film before Game 2 to better exploit the gaps.
Thunder Win Despite Cold Start
The Thunder shot just 2-of-13 in the first half from Gilgeous-Alexander and still only trailed by four. Head coach Mark Daigneault saw that as a positive sign.
“For us to play as poorly as we did offensively in the first half and be down four was a major victory,” Daigneault said.
Their confidence showed in the fourth quarter. A highlight-reel spinning dunk by Chet Holmgren brought the crowd to its feet, and a circus shot by Gilgeous-Alexander that rolled in after a foul pushed the lead to 91-77 with seven minutes left.
Looking Ahead: Game 2 on Thursday
Thunder fans will hope to see a repeat performance in Game 2 Thursday night in Oklahoma City. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves will look to bounce back from their first double-digit loss of the postseason.
“It’s Game 1,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “They won at home. Congrats to them. They played really well. There’s another game in two days.”
