Thunder Can't Overcome Size Difference in Minnesota, Loses 120-95

Following the big win over the New Orleans Pelicans, the Oklahoma City Thunder traveled to Minnesota to take on the Timberwolves in their second game of the Play-In Tournament. The Thunder were outsized and outmatched all night, and the Timberwolves took the 120-95 win.

The Thunder were on a mission early in this one. Aside from the 4-of-4 shooting start, they were attacking the paint relentlessly – as they normally do – but this time they were absorbing contact to attempt to get the big men in trouble.

The Timberwolves would flip the script on the Thunder, though, abusing their size to get an offensive advantage. When the Thunder subbed, they spaced the Timberwolves out, and each of Lindy Waters and Isaiah Joe knocked down a 3-pointer.

It was a close first quarter as the Timberwolves led the Thunder 24-23 after the first frame. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort led the Thunder with six points apiece.

The Timberwolves opened up the second quarter with an advantage. After starting the game 4-of-4 from the field, the Thunder cooled off from the field and allowed the Timberwolves to build a solid lead – as much as 11 points.

For the Timberwolves, they stuck to what was working by attacking the inside of the paint. The Thunder just didn’t have the resources to stop it and their offense wasn’t good enough to match it.

The Thunder didn’t find their offense in the second quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander struggled in the quarter and picked up three fouls on the half. He finished with ten points on the half to go with his three fouls as the Timberwolves led 57-47.

This game had a similar first half this game than they did in the Pelicans matchup. They were going to have to come into the second half focused on their adjustments.

Gilgeous-Alexander took a tough blow from Rudy Gobert in the face early in the second half, and he was taken to the locker room as the Thunder fell down by 13 points. The Timberwolves kept pushing and they built a 17-point lead, forcing the Thunder into a timeout.

At the end of the quarter, the Thunder were making some noise, but an Anthony Edwards layup, Thunder turnover and Edwards 3-pointer gave the Timberwolves the noise they needed.

The Timberwolves ended up winning the third frame 38-31, extending their lead to 95-78. The Edwards sequence felt like the dagger in this matchup.

The bleeding didn't stop for the Thunder early in the fourth, as the Timberwolves broke into the 20-point lead range. The Thunder felt stagnant on offense and things weren't going the Thunder's way.

With the crowd behind them, the Timberwolves were able to cruise their way to a dominating win over the Thunder. They took as much as a 29-point lead in the final frame.

They ended up finishing the game with the 120-95 win. Karl Anthony-Towns and Gobert dominated for the Timberwolves en route to their win. The Thunder brought their final subs in just under the five minute mark.

Anthony-Towns finished with 28 points on 11-of-16 shooting and pulled down 11 rebounds. Gobert added 21 points and nine rebounds with 14 free throws attempted.

Gilgeous-Alexander capped off his incredible season with 22 points, seven rebounds and three assists. No Thunder players were spectacular on offense, but Jalen Williams had 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting, being the Thunder's best offensive player on the night.

For the Thunder, they'll be able to reflect on this season as an overall over-successful season, though they'll end the season with a nasty taste in their mouth, which will push the Thunder to reach more postseason play.

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