The Oklahoma City Thunder secured a decisive 114-88 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday (May 20). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with a game-high 31 points, including 20 in the second half, to help his team overcome a four-point halftime deficit.
Despite a slow start, the Thunder's defense proved crucial, forcing 19 turnovers and converting them into 31 points. "Our defense definitely gave us life early in the game and kept us in it," Gilgeous-Alexander said, according to ESPN. Jalen Williams added 19 points, contributing to the Thunder's strong second-half performance, where they outscored the Timberwolves 70-40.
Minnesota's Julius Randle scored 28 points, with 20 coming in the first half. However, the Timberwolves struggled offensively in the second half, with Anthony Edwards scoring only 18 points overall. NBA.com reported that Oklahoma City's defense, which was top-rated during the regular season, continued to shine, holding Minnesota to just 34.9% shooting from the floor.
The Thunder will host the Timberwolves again for Game 2 on Thursday (May 22), looking to extend their lead in the best-of-seven series.