MINNEAPOLIS — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander showcased his exceptional skills by scoring 37 points, along with contributing eight rebounds, eight assists, and three steals, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 130-123 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night. This win maintains the Thunder’s position at the top of the Western Conference as they open a two-game series against the Timberwolves, with a rematch set for Monday night in Oklahoma City.
In addition to Gilgeous-Alexander’s stellar performance, Chet Holmgren also made an impact by scoring 19 points. The Thunder displayed impressive shooting, particularly from beyond the arc, hitting a remarkable 54% of their three-point attempts (19 of 35), marking their best effort of the season in that category.
With eight minutes remaining in the game, Gilgeous-Alexander rejoined the action and ignited an 18-4 run for his team, which followed a three-pointer from his cousin, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, that had briefly given the Timberwolves a 110-105 lead.
The Timberwolves managed to regenerate some momentum, thanks to Anthony Edwards, who tallied 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Despite a valiant effort to overcome a 19-point deficit earlier in the game, the short-handed Timberwolves (31-27) faced their fourth loss in five games.
The Thunder (46-10) have demonstrated remarkable consistency, losing just once in their last 25 outings, with their only defeat during that stretch occurring in Minnesota on February 13. They currently hold a substantial 9.5-game lead over both the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference standings.
Noteworthy contributions off the bench for the Thunder came from Aaron Wiggins and Alex Caruso. Caruso made three three-pointers and played a crucial role, providing a steal that set up a three-pointer for Gilgeous-Alexander during a pivotal stretch in the fourth quarter.
On the Timberwolves’ side, the absence of key players in the starting frontcourt, Rudy Gobert (back) and Julius Randle (groin), proved to be a challenge. Additionally, Jaylen Clark suffered an injury in the third quarter after colliding with the floor while attempting a layup, and he was ruled out due to neck pain following the incident. This was particularly unfortunate as Clark was making only his second career start.
A significant moment in the game came when the Thunder surged to a 52-33 lead after an impressive start, making 19 of their first 27 shots. In response, the Timberwolves went on a remarkable 25-4 run that shifted the momentum. Edwards made a crucial crossover dribble and a step-back to sink his first three-pointer of the game with just 2:36 left in the second quarter, showcasing the competitive nature of the battle.
A key statistic to note is that the Timberwolves struggled from three-point range at the start, missing 11 of their first 12 attempts. This shooting inefficiency proved to be a significant hindrance for them throughout the game.
