Thunder-Wolves: Gilgeous-Alexander leads OKC to Game 1 win in West finals

In Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 to earn a slow start with 31 points.

Gilgeous-Alexander recorded his eighth playoff game of the year with 30 or more points, and his fourth in a row. On Tuesday, he also added a game-high nine assists.

Gilgeous-Alexander capped off the fourth quarter with a stunning play with seven minutes left. The All-Star guard began falling as he approached the basket before flipping the ball toward the hoop.

Jaden McDaniels was called for the foul after the ball briefly rolled around the rim before breaking through.

The Thunder rose by 14 at the conclusion of Gilgeous-Alexander’s three-point play. He made 11 of 14 attempts from the free-throw line while making 10-of-27 from the floor and 0-of-4 from 3-point range.

Gilgeous-Alexander struggled early on, holding him only to shoot 2-of-13 on the first half.

With less than a minute left in the first half, Oklahoma City had a nine-point lead before the Thunder cut the deficit to four with a 6-1 run.

In Game 1, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Brett Rojo/Imagn Images via Reuters), scored a game-high 35 points.

Gilgeous-Alexander was subsequently moved off the ball by Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, which helped the 1.98 meter (Six feet, six inch) guard find a rhythm.

In the third quarter, Oklahoma City outscored Minnesota 32-18 with 12 points.

The Thunder’s defense was the one that had the biggest impact on the victory, despite Gilgeous-Alexander raising the bar for offence.

Oklahoma City made 19 turnovers overall, totaling 31 points. Only 10 of the Thunder’s 15 giveaways were redeemed by Minnesota.

Jalen Williams of Oklahoma City finished with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Chet Holmgren had 15 points and seven boards.

The Thunder only managed 34.9 percent from the floor and 15 of 51 (29.4%) from 3-point range while shooting 50 percent from the field and 11 of 21 (52%) from beyond the arc.

Minnesota had 28 points in the first half, with 20 coming from Julius Randle. After going 5-for-6 on 3-point attempts in the first half, Randle made no attempt to shoot beyond the arc in the second half.

Anthony Edwards, a Timberwolves All-Star, finished with 18 points and nine rebounds. In the final seven minutes of the fourth quarter, he only made one attempt, a miss.