Thunder Seize Game 1 With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Stellar Play in Western Conference Finals Opener
Thunder Make a Statement in Game 1
Not every playoff opener turns into a rout, but Monday night in Oklahoma City, the Thunder left absolutely no doubt about who set the pace. Thundering past the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88, OKC sent a clear message: they’re not just happy to be here. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the engine all night, slicing into Minnesota's defense and making it look far too easy. The crowd at Paycom Center loved every second—and for everyone watching on ESPN, it was a night of one-sided drama.
From the tip-off, you could sense the Thunder weren’t playing around. Their defensive urgency forced Minnesota into tough shots and, frankly, a lot of awkward possessions. Gilgeous-Alexander ran the show, finding open teammates with slick passes and dropping in bucket after bucket himself. Whenever Minnesota threatened to make a run, he responded—the kind of leadership you want from your star when the lights are brightest.
Timberwolves Left Searching for Answers
For the Timberwolves, things just didn’t click. Sure, Julius Randle finished with an impressive 30 points, proving he can hold his own in a hostile environment. But even with his offensive outburst, Minnesota was a step behind all night. The usual energy and defensive grit that got them this far? It just wasn’t there. Some key players were rested, and it left the team out of rhythm, making costly mistakes on both ends.
Oklahoma City’s home-court buzz was real. Every Thunder stop on defense, every fast break, it just seemed to deflate the Timberwolves a bit more. By the third quarter, the Thunder’s lead swelled, largely because of a balanced attack. It wasn’t just Gilgeous-Alexander (who ended with a game-high in efficiency); guys like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams fed off the energy too, each chipping in and keeping Minnesota scrambling.
One key sequence in the second half saw OKC rattle off a run that blew open a once-manageable gap. The Timberwolves’ bench looked stunned, while Oklahoma City fans got louder with each bucket. If you checked out Thunder-themed court-side reports via Hoop Streams, you saw just how infectious the home energy was.
Even the broadcast team—Mike Breen, Doris Burke, Richard Jefferson, and Lisa Salters—couldn’t help but marvel at how locked in OKC looked. Burke highlighted how the Thunder dictated the flow every time; Jefferson pointed out the Timberwolves simply weren’t getting stops. It was basketball by avalanche, and OKC was having a blast.
Game 2 is set for May 22, and if this opener showed us anything, it’s that Oklahoma City has the upper hand right now. The Timberwolves need more than just a strong stat line from Randle; they’ll have to regroup, find their defensive swagger, and somehow slow down Gilgeous-Alexander if they want to push back in this series.