The Oklahoma City Thunder came through offensively in the fourth quarter, bouncing back with an intense 128-126 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 27.
Minnesota Timberwolves Top Performers:
Jaden McDaniels 22 PTS | 4 REB | 4 STL | 42.8 FPS
McDaniels has scored 22 points twice in his last three games and has been spectacular from the perimeter, shooting 9-for-18 from three. Still, his most consistent impact comes on the defensive end, where he has posted strong numbers in three games and taken on the primary assignment of guarding SGA. With Randle struggling, they’ll need another performance like this from him to stay alive in this series.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker 23 PTS | 4 REB | 6 AST | 41.8 FPS
NAW got off to a strong start, scoring 13 points in just 11 minutes and going a perfect 4-for-4 from three. He has emerged as a key player in this matchup by making an impact on both ends of the floor. Over the last three games, he’s delivered efficient scoring performances while consistently contributing on the defensive end. His two-way play will remain crucial if they hope to extend the series.
Donte DiVincenzo 21 PTS | 3 REB | 5 AST | 33.1 FPS
DiVincenzo had struggled offensively throughout the playoffs and hadn’t made much of an impact in the first three games of the series. However, he came through in a big way today, going 5-for-8 from the three-point area. It’s unlikely he’ll repeat this performance on the road in Game 5, but if he does, he could become a key asset moving forward.
Rudy Gobert 13 PTS | 9 REB | 3 AST | 29.3 FPS
Gobert delivered offensively today, particularly in the third quarter, where he scored 8 points. He also continued to dominate the interior, grabbing seven offensive rebounds and consistently providing rim protection. Despite that, the team will need even more from him in those areas to improve their chances of winning another game.
Anthony Edwards 16 PTS | 4 REB | 6 AST | 24.8 FPS
Edwards had a difficult time on offense, scoring under 20 points for just the third time this postseason, but the second time in this series. He has recorded six 20-point games and three with at least 30 before this matchup. His three-point shooting has become problematic, going 1-for-7 today after a 1-for-9 performance in Game 2. Turnovers also remain a weakness, marking his third game with at least four. Despite the slump, he’s poised for a bounce-back performance in Game 5—he’s scored 30 points in three of his last four road games, provided he plays smarter on offense.
Oklahoma City Thunder Top Performers:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 40 PTS | 9 REB | 10 AST | 63.8 FPS
SGA delivered a standout performance, setting the tone early with 21 points, 4 offensive rebounds, and 6 assists in the first half alone. He maintained his momentum after the break, coming up big in the fourth quarter with a clutch showing that capped off his playoff career high and marked the third time this postseason he’s scored at least 38 points. While his efficiency from the field wasn’t ideal, attempting 30 shots, he made up for it at the free-throw line, going 12-for-14. It was his third game this postseason with that level of success from the line. He also filled the stat sheet with strong secondary numbers and, in doing so, became just the fourth player in NBA history to post such a stat line in the Western Conference Finals.
Jalen Williams 34 PTS | 5 AST | 3 STL | 52.1 FPS
JDub got back on track in a dominant way, opening the scoring with five quick points before taking over in the fourth quarter, dropping 14 points, including hitting clutch shots. His perimeter shooting was the difference maker today, going 6-for-9 after shooting just 27% in the first three games and breaking the franchise record. This performance marked his second 30-point performance this playoffs. If he can maintain this level of performance, then the Thunder will be difficult to beat.
Chet Holmgren 21 PTS | 7 REB | 3 BLK | 41.9 FPS
Holmgren was brilliant on offense, shooting 9-for-14 to record his fourth 20-point performance of the playoffs. He shot much better from the perimeter after struggling in the first three games and continues to excel on defense, registering his fifth game with three or more blocks. He delivered strong scoring performances in his first two home games of the series and should continue to do so in Game 5.
Cason Wallace 7 PTS | 3 REB | 3 AST | 24.1 FPS
Wallace is a do-it-all player, delivering his second full stat-line performance of the series. However, he continues to struggle offensively, particularly from three-point range, where he’s shooting just 28% in four games. Still, he was a major factor in the second and third quarters, helping the team take control of the game.
Alex Caruso 10 PTS | 2 REB | 2 STL | 18.9 FPS
Caruso has been a strong two-way contributor in the playoffs, recording seven double-digit scoring games and six games with at least three stocks. While he hasn’t been as productive in this series, he remains a key part of the rotation and should continue to provide an impact from the bench.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Julius Randle 5 PTS | 7 REB | 3 AST
Randle has been highly erratic in this series, alternating between efficient scoring performances—putting up at least 24 points in two games—and struggling badly in the other two, where he scored 6 points or fewer. His turnovers are also becoming a concern, with Game 3 marking the third time he has committed at least four. However, if the pattern holds, he could be poised for another strong showing in Game 5. They’ll need him at his best offensively to extend this series. Encouragingly, he has scored at least 23 points in five of his last six road games in these playoffs.
