Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shook off a sluggish start to deliver a commanding performance, scoring 31 points and dishing out nine assists to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 114-88 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals on Tuesday night.
Despite missing his first 11 three-point attempts and shooting just 2-of-13 in the first half, Gilgeous-Alexander showed why he’s considered a leading MVP contender this season. The 25-year-old guard shifted gears after halftime, especially after Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault moved him off the ball—a tactical adjustment that sparked Oklahoma City’s offense.
“I just tried to stay aggressive, even when the shots weren’t falling,” Gilgeous-Alexander said postgame. “We knew it would open up eventually.”
Indeed, it did. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 12 of his 31 points in the third quarter, spearheading a decisive 32-18 run that turned a tight game into a blowout. His most spectacular play came with seven minutes left in the fourth, when he absorbed contact from Jaden McDaniels while flipping in a falling layup. The ball bounced around the rim before dropping in, and the ensuing free throw stretched the Thunder’s lead to 14 points.
Though he shot just 10-of-27 from the field and missed all four of his three-point attempts, Gilgeous-Alexander was near-perfect at the line, sinking 11-of-14 free throws. His consistency and leadership proved vital for a Thunder team playing in its first Western Conference Finals since 2016.
Oklahoma City’s defense was equally impressive, forcing 19 turnovers and converting them into 31 points. By contrast, the Timberwolves managed only 10 points off the Thunder’s 15 turnovers. Jalen Williams supported the offensive effort with 19 points and eight rebounds, while rookie Chet Holmgren added 15 points and seven boards.
The Thunder shot an efficient 50 percent from the floor and a blistering 52.4 percent from deep (11-of-21), in sharp contrast to Minnesota’s cold night. The Timberwolves were held to just 34.9 percent shooting overall and a dismal 29.4 percent (15-of-51) from beyond the arc.
Julius Randle led Minnesota with 28 points, including 20 in the first half and five made threes. However, he failed to attempt a shot from long range in the second half. Anthony Edwards finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, but his impact waned late, attempting just one shot in the final quarter.
Game 2 of the series is set to take place in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder will look to build on a dominant Game 1 and take a commanding lead in the series.
