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The Western Conference Finals are underway, and the young, fearless Oklahoma City Thunder drew first blood. With Game 2 set for tonight (8:30 PM ET on ESPN) in Oklahoma City, the top-seeded Thunder will look to maintain momentum after dismantling the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half of Game 1. Minnesota, meanwhile, will attempt to bounce back, find a better offensive rhythm and even the series before it heads north.
Let’s break down how Game 1 unfolded, where adjustments could come for both sides and what to expect in a pivotal Game 2.
Minnesota came into Game 1 with rest and early rhythm, jumping out to an 8-0 lead and holding a 48-44 advantage at halftime. Jaden McDaniels sparked the Wolves early with quick buckets, and Julius Randle looked unstoppable, scoring 20 first-half points on 5-of-6 from deep. But the Wolves’ sharpness faded fast.
The second half was all Thunder. After struggling with efficiency in the first two quarters (2-of-13 shooting), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander erupted for 20 second-half points to finish with 31. OKC outscored Minnesota 70-40 after the break and closed out a dominant 114-88 win. Gilgeous-Alexander’s 11-of-14 mark at the free-throw line kept pressure on the Wolves defense throughout.
Oklahoma City’s energy on both ends overwhelmed Minnesota. The Thunder defense tightened up, packing the paint and daring the Wolves to shoot from the outside. The result? Minnesota hoisted 51 threes, many early in the shot clock and made just 15. Only 20 of their 88 points came in the paint.
While Randle cooled off in the second half and finished with 28 points, Anthony Edwards was held in check all game long, managing 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting. Notably, he attempted just one shot in the fourth quarter and scored zero points in the final period. The Thunder’s swarming defense forced the ball out of his hands and limited his off-ball movement. Edwards will clearly need to adjust both his usage and positioning to make a significant impact in Game 2.
Oklahoma City also won the depth battle in a landslide. Four starters scored in double figures, and the Thunder’s bench added 31 points. Kenrich Williams and Cason Wallace made critical contributions off the bench, with Wallace dishing out 7 assists and Williams providing a surprise scoring boost in the third quarter that helped blow the game open. Alex Caruso’s defense was elite once again, hounding Randle and Edwards while showing why he’s been one of the most impactful defenders this postseason.
Minnesota’s supporting cast faltered badly – Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo and Nickeil Alexander-Walker combined to shoot 7-of-36 from the field and just 5-of-28 from deep. If the Wolves are going to even the series, those role players must be significantly better.
With just one day between games, the Timberwolves face a difficult turnaround after being outplayed across the board. The physical and mental toll of a 26-point loss in the opener cannot be understated, especially against a Thunder squad that continues to look like the most cohesive and relentless team in the playoffs.
Minnesota’s key to Game 2 will be adjusting its offensive flow. They need to get Edwards off the ball more, using movement and screens to get him clean looks before the Thunder defense can set. If he’s stationary, isolated or forced to initiate more offense and create for others as the primary ball handler, Oklahoma City will keep swarming, doubling and forcing tough passes or deep threes.
The Wolves also need to hit the offensive glass harder, especially if they are going to shoot that many triples, and attack the paint more aggressively, either by driving or involving Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid and Randle in quick actions to collapse the defense. Game 1 showed that relying on volume from behind the arc could play directly into OKC’s hands.
Still, the Thunder defense doesn’t allow many easy fixes. They rotate, help, recover and contest as well as anyone in the league. And while Hartenstein wasn’t much of a factor down low in game 1, their versatility, speed and length made up for it. Chet Holmgren continues to impact the game on both ends, even if his box score numbers don’t pop, and Caruso, Williams Lu Dort, SGA and Wallace form a ferocious perimeter unit.
The Thunder hit 11-of-21 from deep in Game 1, a 52.4% clip, while the Wolves took 29 more threes and made only four more. Some course correction could bring things closer in Game 2, especially if Minnesota finds some confidence early. Expect the Timberwolves to play a bit more zone than the one possession they did last night. Expect a better shooting night for Minnesota’s role players and more aggression from Edwards. But also expect the Thunder to keep forcing turnovers, pushing the pace and getting contributions up and down the lineup.
A potential X-factor could be the type of whistle SGA draws in Game 2. Yet, with the Thunder’s home crowd behind them and the matchup advantages still in place, another OKC win feels likely, though perhaps not by blowout margins this time.
Jalen Williams has quietly become one of OKC’s most dependable contributors in all facets. He grabbed 8 boards and dished 5 assists in Game 1, and has now hit 11+ rebounds + assists in 9 of 12 playoff games. Against a Minnesota team that may jack up threes this series in the face of OKC packing the paint, often leaving long rebounds up for grabs, Williams’ blend of rebounding instincts and playmaking make this a strong selection heading into Game 2.
Zach has been a published sports writer since 2018 specializing in college football & basketball, MLB and NFL content for multiple publications.