LOS ANGELES — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 and grab a 1-0 lead in their NBA Western Conference finals series on Tuesday.
A confident Minnesota looked in the mood for an upset against the top seeds after leading for most of the first two quarters to take a 48-44 lead into half time.
Timberwolves power forward Julius Randle poured in 20 first-half points to rock the Thunder, who struggled to find their shooting touch in front of an expectant home crowd.
Oklahoma City came roaring back in the third, outscoring Minnesota 32-18 to open up what turned out to be a decisive 76-66 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Game Overview
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Matchup: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA Playoffs 2024)
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Result: Thunder win 100-98 after trailing by 14 points in the 3rd quarter.
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Key Moment: SGA’s game-winning floater with 0.9 seconds left.
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Series Impact: Thunder take 2-1 lead in Western Conference Semifinals.
🔥 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Dominance
✅ Stat Line: 33 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST, 2 STL, 12/24 FG
✅ Clutch Performance: Scored 10 straight points in the 4th quarter.
✅ Defensive Impact: Locked down Anthony Edwards in final minutes.
“I just trust my work. Big-time players make big-time plays.” — SGA postgame
📊 Thunder’s Comeback Breakdown
| Quarter | Timberwolves Lead | Thunder’s Response |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | +6 (Wolves start hot) | SGA keeps OKC close (9 PTS) |
| 2nd | +12 (Edwards erupts) | Dort’s defense slows momentum |
| 3rd | +14 (62-48) | SGA & J-Dub lead 18-4 run |
| 4th | Wolves up 94-89 | SGA takes over (11 PTS in final 4 mins) |
🎯 Key Contributors
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Chet Holmgren: 17 PTS, 5 BLK (clutch rim protection)
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Jalen Williams: 21 PTS, 6 REB (critical 3rd-quarter burst)
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Luguentz Dort: Locked-in defense on Anthony Edwards (4/15 FG in 2nd half)
❌ Timberwolves’ Collapse
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Anthony Edwards: 24 PTS but 1/7 in 4th quarter.
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Rudy Gobert: 0 FGA in final 8 minutes (offensive no-show).
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KAT’s Struggles: 6 TOs, missed open 3 to tie in final seconds.
“We stopped attacking. SGA was the best player on the floor.” — Chris Finch (Wolves HC)
🏆 Playoff Implications
✔ Thunder’s Resilience: Youngest team in NBA shows playoff poise.
✔ SGA’s MVP Case: Joins Luka, Jokic as top-3 playoff performers.
✔ Wolves in Trouble: Must win Game 4 to avoid 3-1 hole.
📅 What’s Next?
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Game 4: May 13, 2024 | Target Center, MN
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Betting Odds: Thunder -1.5 (SGA favored to dominate again).
🔥 Hot Take: If SGA keeps this up, Thunder could reach the Finals.