Perhaps we forgot just how uniquely good the Oklahoma City Thunder can be. Night-to-night playoff staging can distort our feel for the top-seeded teams. The previous knock-down, drag-out series with Denver accentuated their imperfections, and even the first two quarters of Tuesday’s Western Conference finals opener left something to be desired.
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Then, that thundering second half. OKC went five out and switched on everything. It played the opposing bigs off the floor and attacked with unflinching consistency. It trailed at the break, 48-44, but won by a final of 114-88.
The Minnesota Timberwolves now try to even up this series on Thursday, quickly regrouping for Game 2 adjustments.
How to watch Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder Game 2
- Venue: Paycom Center — Oklahoma City
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET Thursday
- TV: ESPN, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes
- Streaming: Fubo (try for free)
- Watching in-person? Get tickets on StubHub.
This game will also be streamed on ESPN+.
Timberwolves at Thunder Game 2
Thunder lead series 1-0
Series odds: Thunder -650, Timberwolves +475
What a consummate closing run for Mark Daigneault’s core on Tuesday. The defense limited Minnesota to 34.9 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from 3-point range, and forced 17 turnovers to 18 assisted baskets. The Thunder clogged the middle and switched all around the halfcourt, leaving Anthony Edwards with only five made shots on 13 attempts.
Julius Randle was fantastic yet again, but the defensive adjustments arrived on time (eight points in the second half after 20 in the first). None of the other Timberwolves cracked double-figure scoring, and Mike Conley was the only one with a positive plus-minus mark (plus-five in 22 minutes).
On the other end, Oklahoma City’s offense was tremendously efficient. The Thunder shot 50 percent from the field and 52.4 percent from 3-point range, while successfully downsizing the lineup to play Rudy Gobert off the court. Shai-Gilgeous Alexander was the obvious headliner, but the interior duo of Chet Holmgren (6-for-9) and Isaiah Hartenstein (6-for-8) were effective. Jalen Williams had a lively line of 19/8/5 plus five steals, and he did so playing from the center spot.
After struggling against zone looks in the Denver series, this offense comfortably broke the zone throughout the second half.
OKC gave Minnesota some clean looks at corner 3s, and just about all of them clanked off the rim. To even this series in a tough road environment, Chris Finch will have to trust that his supporting cast can deliver catch-and-shoot tries. Conley, Naz Reid, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Donte DiVincenzo combined to go 6-for-33 (18.2 percent) behind the arc. Of course, Edwards will have to take more than 13 shots to pull the upset, and the sizable underdogs can’t afford to lose another turnover differential.
Let’s see how Minnesota adjusts to its host’s smaller lineups, paint-clogging rotations and free-throw hunting. After Thursday’s Game 2, Game 3 ships up north to Minnesota for a Saturday broadcast on ABC.
Which namesake would win in an actual fight? Thunder itself is just a sound, though it connotes the power and awe of a lightning strike. Wolves are vicious and intelligent group hunters, but dogs and thunderstorms famously do not mix. Advantage to OKC here.
Expert picks
On this day (May 22) in NBA Playoffs history
1988 — Hawks 116, Celtics 118: In a second-round Game 7 for the ages, Dominique Wilkins and Larry Bird went toe-to-toe at Boston Garden. Wilkins had 47 points, Bird had 33 and the Celts narrowly advanced to face the bubbling “Bad Boy” Pistons in the conference finals. Sam Goldaper in the New York Times:
“Kevin McHale repeated today what has been said many times before, ‘Larry Bird just won’t let you lose.’
In what may rank among the outstanding individual performances in National Basketball Association playoff history, Bird took it upon himself in the fourth quarter to beat the Atlanta Hawks. Coming off picks by McHale and Robert Parish, Bird missed only one of 10 shots and outscored Dominique Wilkins, 20-16, in the quarter.”
Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
(Photo of Anthony Edwards and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: William Purnell / Getty Images)
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