The Oklahoma City Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 31 points (20 in the second half), cruised to a 114-88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on May 20, 2025, at the Paycom Center. The top-seeded Thunder overcame a 48-44 halftime deficit, sparked by a 10-0 run in the third quarter (32-18) to lead 76-66, and never looked back, with Gilgeous-Alexander’s and-1 in the fourth sealing the rout. Minnesota, who hadn’t played in a week after eliminating the Warriors (per prior web results), struggled offensively, with Anthony Edwards held to 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting, frustrated by OKC’s packed paint defense, as he noted post-game.
Julius Randle led the sixth-seeded Timberwolves with 28 points (8 in the second half), including 5-of-6 from three in the first half, but couldn’t keep pace as OKC’s defense tightened, a stark contrast to Minnesota’s earlier playoff success against Golden State (per Yahoo Sports). Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised his team’s resilience after a poor offensive first half, while Kenrich Williams, a seldom-used sub, added a key jumper and three-pointer in the third. The Thunder, fresh off a Game 7 win over Denver two days prior (per ESPN), showcased their depth, with Chet Holmgren’s spinning dunk in traffic electrifying the crowd, highlighting their momentum as the West’s top seed.
The series, featuring two of the NBA’s brightest young stars in Gilgeous-Alexander and Edwards (per Yahoo Sports), continues with Game 2 on Thursday in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder aim to build on their home dominance. Minnesota coach Chris Finch remained optimistic, saying, “There’s another game in two days,” but Edwards, averaging 26.5 points in the playoffs, must adjust to OKC’s defensive scheme after noting their strategy of clogging the paint. With both teams showcasing young talent—OKC’s core all under 26 and Edwards at 23 (per prior web results)—this matchup promises more intensity.
