Whenever any team plays against the Oklahoma City Thunder, they must be wary of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his ability to draw fouls. Some people feel he embellishes the contact, but it is effective for the Thunder.
The Minnesota Timberwolves experienced that during Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. In the first four minutes of the first quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander had already shot seven free throws, which led to the Timberwolves' players showing visible frustration.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) fight for a rebound in the fourth quarter during game one of the western conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center.
Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
The Timberwolves tried to neutralize Gilgeous-Alexander in the first half, limiting him to 11 points, shooting 2-of-13 from the field. He was still contributing from the free-throw line, but the defense was superb.
Unfortunately, that did not last for the entire game. The Timberwolves let go of their slim lead as the Thunder took control and cruised to a victory. SGA scored 20 points in the second half, which was the nail in the coffin for Minnesota in Game 1.
Finch Wants The Timberwolves To Focus On The Game
Since the Timberwolves looked frustrated about Gilgeous-Alexander constantly getting foul calls, they were thrown off their game. Even Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards was handed a technical foul in the first quarter.
That has led to head coach Chris Finch reminding his players to focus on the game. He does not want them to keep talking about the fouls because that will always happen with a player like SGA.
"There was a lot of frustration out there. We talked about that before the series started, and we have to be able to kind of put that to the side and get on with the next play mentality," Finch said after Game 1.
Finch does not want to make excuses because he knows what the Timberwolves are capable of. This team beat the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers while losing only two games. Minnesota can upset the Thunder if they stay locked in.
The Western Conference Finals Will Be A Long Series
The Timberwolves' second-half performance in Game 1 was disappointing for their standards. They usually turn it up in the final two quarters, but they could not find their rhythm. The Thunder took advantage and ended up winning the game.
This should not be the case for the entire series because the Timberwolves have learned their lesson. They want to succeed in this series, which requires them to keep attacking and doing better on offense.
Anthony Edwards should want to improve on his 18-point night, which is lower than his standard standout performance. They should help out Julius Randle, who was tremendous again with his 28-point effort.
The Timberwolves are close, as they just need to be more consistent and mentally tougher than they were in Game 1. Finch is already prepared because he showed some promising defensive schemes, which should be more effective as the series progresses.