MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MAY 26: Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates after … More
It took an improbable victory in Game 4 following a brutally lopsided loss in Game 3, but the Oklahoma City Thunder took a commanding 3-1 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night. Heading back to OKC for Game 5, the Thunder had a chance to punch a ticket to the NBA Finals in front of its home crowd on Wednesday.
The Timberwolves threw countless punches and gave Oklahoma City a phenomenal effort, but the team with the best record in the NBA came out on top. The Wolves found ways to dominate multiple facets of the game, but it simply wasn’t enough, given how well the Thunder played.
A new era of Thunder basketball truly emerged, as the trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren dominated the pivotal game. They combined for 95 points, which is the most in Oklahoma City history, and officially surprised last era’s trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, who held the previous high of 94 points by a three-man unit.
The last time the Thunder held a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals was back in 2016 against the Golden State Warriors. Of course, that series didn’t end well for OKC, as the Warriors stormed back to win that series in seven games. This time around, Oklahoma City will look to take care of business with three chances to advance to the NBA Finals, all of which are at home.
Making it to that final round of the playoffs would be the first appearance since 2012 when the Thunder lost to the Miami Heat. This time, the opponent would be either the Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks, depending on who wins the Eastern Conference Finals.
With the MVP at the helm and two rising stars emerging alongside him, this Thunder squad has the makings of a championship team.
Before advancing to the NBA Finals, the Thunder must truly stay engaged and locked in. The 42-point win the Timberwolves put together on Saturday night in Game 3 over OKC is proof of that. In the playoffs, especially at this stage and against a team of Minnesota’s caliber, winning takes your best effort. Ideally, the Thunder wins Game 5 at home on Wednesday. But don’t be surprised if the Wolves extend the series further.
This is especially true, given how much Anthony Edwards struggled in Game 4. While the majority of the complimentary pieces around him stepped up and hit huge buckets, he wasn’t at his best. He only took 13 shots, scoring 16 points in total. Jaden McDaniels, Donte DiVincenzo, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker combined for 66 points, including 13 made threes. Conversely, Julius Randle only contributed five points. It will take a collective group effort for Minnesota to somehow win this series, but it’s not out of the question.
But given the Thunder needs just one more win to advance to the NBA Finals, the sense of urgency will be there for Oklahoma City. Their best showing should also be expected when these teams meet again on Wednesday. Bigger picture, the Thunder is five wins away from its first championship since relocating to Oklahoma City.
