OKC Thunder Move Closer to Top Seed With Win Over Timberwolves
After trailing by 11 in the fourth quarter, the Oklahoma City Thunder broke through for a signature win.
The Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 102-97 in a battle of the West’s two best teams. The Thunder moved within one game of the No. 1 seed and secured a valuable win in a potential tiebreaker.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s stepback 3-pointer with 1:14 left put the Thunder up 96-94 for their first lead of the fourth quarter. Mike Conley missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer before Naz Reid’s layup cut the lead to one after a couple of Jalen Williams free throws.
Isaiah Joe then nailed two free throws before Lu Dort fouled Anthony Edwards on a 3-point attempt. However, Edwards missed all three free throws to secure Oklahoma City's win.
With the game turning into a slugfest in the fourth quarter, Dort’s 3-pointer trimmed the Thunder’s deficit to four midway through the quarter. A couple of minutes later, Gilgeous-Alexander put the Thunder within one possession for the first time since the middle of the third and tied the game a possession later.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder in scoring with 33 and did plenty of damage from the free throw line, shooting 12-of-13. He added six assists but had a tough shooting night overall.
The Timberwolves began to gain some separation in the third quarter behind a barrage of 3-pointers led by Reid. The big man hit two straight before Nickeil Alexander-Walker nailed another to help their lead reach double figures for the first time.
Holding Oklahoma City to just 17 points in the third, Minnesota took a nine-point lead into the final frame. Shooting 39.5% on Saturday, Oklahoma City’s offensive struggles were not limited to a rough third.
After getting his high school jersey retired in Minnesota on Friday, Chet Holmgren finished with 15 points, five rebounds and two blocks. He also helped hold Rudy Gobert to just 1-of-6 from the floor.
Reid’s 3-pointer a few minutes into the second quarter gave Minnesota its first lead. That lead was short-lived, but Minnesota still led for much of the quarter from that point. But Oklahoma City responded after a rough stretch to take a three-point lead into halftime.
The Thunder threw the first punch by scoring the game’s first nine points en route to a 21-5 lead early in the first frame. Josh Giddey’s wild behind-the-back pass on the fast break set up one of a few early baskets off turnovers for the Thunder.
The Thunder will get the Portland Trail Blazers at home on Tuesday before beginning another road trip.
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