Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a dominant 114-88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals on Tuesday night, MySportDab Reports.
The top-seeded Thunder overcame a sluggish start and a 48-44 halftime deficit before erupting in the second half, outscoring Minnesota 70-40 after the break.
Gilgeous-Alexander, a leading MVP candidate, bounced back from a cold first half where he shot just 2-of-13 to take control in the third quarter, pouring in 12 points as Oklahoma City seized a decisive 76-66 lead.
“We were a bit rusty in the first half,” Gilgeous-Alexander said postgame. “We just needed to stay aggressive, and once the shots started falling, our defense stepped up too.”
Jalen Williams was key in the Thunder’s surge, contributing 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and five steals. Chet Holmgren added 15 points while Isaiah Hartenstein chipped in 12 off the bench.
Minnesota started strong behind Julius Randle’s 20-point first-half outburst, but the Thunder defense clamped down after halftime. Randle finished with 28 points, while Anthony Edwards, who suffered a minor ankle scare, added 18 points but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch admitted his team lost composure: “We didn’t have patience in the second half. Our offense stalled and it affected our defense. That can’t happen at this level.”
Game 2 is set for Thursday in Oklahoma City, with both teams expected to make key adjustments in what promises to be a tightly contested series.
“It’s a good start,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, “but it’s a series. There’s a lot more work to do.”
