OKC sprint past Timberwolves 114-88.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 31 points, nine assists, and five rebounds, as Jaylen Williams (19) and Chet Holmgren (15) found their groove late in the third quarter. OKC Center Isaiah Hartenstein added an efficient 12 points with a 75% field goal percentage.
Photo courtesy Sports Illustrated
Dort and bench players Caruso and Wallace provided a spark off the bench with their defensive intensity, constantly switching between Edwards and whoever was outside the paint for the Wolves. Randle and Edwards kept the Wolves close with the Thunder in the first half and early third quarter despite the Wolves’ seven turnovers in the first quarter, proving OKC’s defense intensity early in the game.
Randle was hot early, sinking five of his six three-pointers in the first quarter and scoring 20 points. Edwards had 13 points. The second half was another story, as Randle and Edwardson had only 13 points combined, with Edwards scoreless in the fourth Quarter. Rudy Gobert played only 21 minutes, contributing two points, while McDaniels and Conley scored seven points each.
The game was low-scoring until the Thunder had a run in the third quarter, for which the Wolves had no answer.
Game 2 will again be played on OKC’s home floor (Thursday at 8:30 PM ET), as both teams look to adjust to Tuesday night’s outcome.
