Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the
Thunder beat the rested Timberwolves 114-88 in Game 1 of West finals
[May 21, 2025]
By CLIFF BRUNT
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 of his 31
points in the second half, and the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder
beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of
the Western Conference finals.
Gilgeous-Alexander made 8 of 14 field goals in the second half after
a rough start.
“I didn’t particularly change my mindset, honestly,” he said, “I
just tried to continue to be aggressive, trust my work.”
Julius Randle scored 28 points for sixth-seeded Minnesota, but just
eight in the second half.
Anthony Edwards, who had been averaging 26.5 points per game in the
playoffs, was held to 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting.
“I definitely got to shoot more. I took 13 (expletive) shots, but
I’ll say probably just get off the ball a little more,” Edwards
said. “Play without the ball. I think that would be the answer,
because playing on the ball, they’re just going to double and sit in
the gaps all day. So I’ve got to go watch some film and take it
apart and figure it out.”
Edwards said the Thunder packed the paint, and he expects the
Timberwolves to take advantage of that tactic going forward. Game 2
is Thursday in Oklahoma City.
“They bank on us not making shots, I guess, because every time I go
to the rim it’s like four people," he said. “So yeah, I guess they
just be clogging the paint. They put like five, four bodies in the
paint, make you kick it out. So keep making the right play.”
Oklahoma City was just two days removed from eliminating Denver in
Game 7 of the conference semifinals. Minnesota hadn’t played in a
week.
Minnesota led 48-44 at halftime as Randle scored 20 points and made
5 of 6 3-pointers. Gilgeous-Alexander was held to 11 points on
2-of-13 shooting before the break.
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, meets
with his wife, Hailey Summers, and their son Ares Alexander
following Game 1 of an NBA basketball Western Conference Finals
playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves Tuesday, May 20,
2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
“For us to play as poorly as we did offensively in
the first half and be down four was a major victory for us at
halftime," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.
The Thunder went on a 10-0 run in the third quarter to take a 66-60
lead. A short time later, Kenrich Williams, a rarely-used sub this
postseason, hit a midrange jumper and a 3-pointer on consecutive
possessions to put the Thunder up 71-62. Oklahoma City outscored
Minnesota 32-18 in the third quarter to take a 76-66 advantage into
the fourth.
A spinning dunk by Holmgren in traffic put Oklahoma City ahead 86-75
and drew a roar from the crowd. Gilgeous-Alexander threw up a prayer
as he was being fouled while falling to the floor. The ball rolled
in, and he made the free throw to make it 91-77 with seven minutes
remaining.
“It’s Game 1," Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “They won at home.
Congrats to them. They played really well. There’s another game in
two days.”
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