OKLAHOMA CITY — On Monday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves staged a remarkable comeback to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 131-128, recovering from a staggering 25-point deficit in the second half. This victory has boosted the confidence of a team that, although it reached the Western Conference Finals last year, has faced inconsistency throughout this season.
The Thunder had established a commanding lead of 82-57 with over seven minutes remaining in the third quarter, and they maintained a 102-80 advantage heading into the fourth. Some Timberwolves players were skeptical about a possible comeback.
“Probably not, because it felt like there wasn’t a chance in hell,” explained Nickeil Alexander-Walker. “For me, the mindset was, ‘Okay, this game seems pretty much over.’ But how we finish was going to matter for our next game.”
In an impressive turn, Minnesota dominated the fourth quarter by outscoring the Thunder by 41-19 and then clinched victory in overtime. Jaden McDaniels contributed significantly with 27 points and 10 rebounds, Naz Reid added 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Anthony Edwards pitched in with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.
Facing off against the leading team in the Western Conference and winning was exactly what the Timberwolves needed. After losing their initial two post-All-Star break games, including a home loss of 130-123 to the Thunder, this victory was pivotal.
Now sitting at 32-27 this season, Minnesota’s win demonstrates their potential as they prepare for upcoming road clashes against the Los Angeles Lakers, Utah, and Phoenix. “I think this win gives us a lot of momentum,” claimed Reid. “If we start with the energy we had in that fourth quarter, we have a great chance against those teams. I’m eager for the challenge.”
Despite missing center Rudy Gobert due to back spasms and forward Julius Randle with a groin injury, the Timberwolves persevered. Edwards, who sustained a minor leg injury in the fourth quarter and was largely benched, made a crucial play by blocking a would-be winning shot by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 13.2 seconds remaining in overtime.
“That play took everything out of me,” Edwards admitted. “I didn’t even feel like I jumped that high. When I blocked it, I couldn’t help but talk some trash.”
Thunder’s standout scorer, Gilgeous-Alexander, ended the game with 39 points, while Jalen Williams added 27. Although they faced some lineup changes with forward Chet Holmgren resting and Isaiah Hartenstein exiting after a nose injury, the Thunder’s lineup, under the stewardship of Coach Mark Daigneault, who was last season’s NBA Coach of the Year, remains formidable with a 46-11 record.
This result evenly split the season series at 2-2, prompting Reid to express optimism about postseason success: “Definitely, I think we’re on equal footing now. Hopefully, we’ll meet again in the playoffs.”
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch’s strategy created issues for the Thunder, especially by keeping the ball away from Gilgeous-Alexander. “Sometimes if players haven’t been part of the game much, it’s hard for them to make crucial shots,” Finch noted. “We took that risk, and it paid off.”
