MINNEAPOLIS — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a standout performance with 37 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and three steals, propelling the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 130-123 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night. This win marked the beginning of a two-game series between the squads, with another matchup scheduled for Monday evening in Oklahoma City.
The Thunder showcased impressive shooting, achieving a season-high 54% from beyond the arc, sinking 19 of 35 attempts. Chet Holmgren contributed significantly as well, adding 19 points to the Thunder’s efforts. Gilgeous-Alexander returned to the court with crucial minutes left in the game and helped ignite an 18-4 run within a span of just over five minutes, following a three-pointer from his cousin, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, which had briefly put the Timberwolves ahead 110-105.
For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards excelled, scoring 29 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. However, the team, which was already depleted, faced challenges after rallying from a 19-point deficit in the second quarter. This loss marked Minnesota’s fourth defeat in their last five games, placing their record at 31-27.
The Thunder improved their record to 46-10 and have only one loss in their last 25 games, which occurred on February 13 in Minnesota. Oklahoma City currently maintains a comfortable 9.5-game lead over Denver and Memphis in the Western Conference standings.
Highlights from the game included notable contributions off the bench. Aaron Wiggins and Alex Caruso played crucial roles, with Caruso hitting three three-pointers and facilitating a critical moment with a steal that set up a three-pointer for Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Timberwolves faced additional setbacks, missing key players in their starting frontcourt, including Rudy Gobert (back) and Julius Randle (groin). Their situation worsened in the third quarter when Jaylen Clark suffered a neck injury after an awkward layup, further impacting the team’s rotation.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred early on when the Thunder established a significant lead at 52-33 after making 19 of their first 27 shots. However, the Timberwolves responded with a 25-4 scoring burst over a six-minute stretch. Edwards showcased his skill with a crossover dribble and a step-back move to sink his first three-pointer of the night.
In terms of shooting performance, the Timberwolves started poorly from long range, missing 11 of their first 12 attempts beyond the arc, which contributed to their struggles throughout the match.
