By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 01:45 EDT, 21 May 2025 | Updated: 01:45 EDT, 21 May 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Minnesota hadn't played in nearly a week and Oklahoma City had just played in a Game 7 two days earlier.
It was the Timberwolves who lacked energy as the Thunder rolled to a 114-88 victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday night.
Minnesota coach Chris Finch said his team was just a bit off.
"There were a lot of good shots out there," he said. "I think we´ve got to clean things up a little bit. You know, sometimes the passes were late, sometimes we weren´t quite shot ready. Sometimes we need to turn to other plays, you know. But I did think that we got a number of really good looks."
Julius Randle scored 20 points in the first half to help the Timberwolves take a 48-44 lead, but Oklahoma City shot 61.9% from the field after the break while Minnesota shot just 35%.
Randle scored just eight points in the second half and only took five shots.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) is double-teamed by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) and forward Jalen Williams (8) during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball Western Conference Finals playoff series Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
"Whether there´s misses or makes, we´ve still got to defend at a high level," Randle said. "And I think that was probably the difference in the second half."
Minnesota's Anthony Edwards, who had averaged 26.5 points per game in the playoffs, scored 18 on 5-for-13 shooting. No other Minnesota players scored in double figures.
Edwards never delivered one of his highlight-reel dunks as Oklahoma City packed the paint. The Timberwolves made just 15 of 51 3-pointers.
"It´s kind of hard to get to the paint honestly," Edwards said. "I mean, regardless, that´s my game. But they definitely took that aspect of my game away tonight from getting downhill. So good job to those guys."
Minnesota center Rudy Gobert was a nonfactor. He committed two quick fouls and finished with two points and three rebounds in 21 minutes. Finch said he took the 7-foot-1 Gobert out and went with a smaller lineup to see if he could shake things up.
Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 of his 31 points in the second half to help Oklahoma City outscore the Timberwolves 70-40.
Minnesota's sluggishness showed in how it defended Gilgeous-Alexander. The MVP finalist and scoring champion made 11 of 14 free throws and played a role in Jaden McDaniels fouling out in just 24 minutes of action.
In two examples of Minnesota's mental state, Edwards drew a technical early in the game for throwing the ball at Gilgeous-Alexander and later picked up another foul for shoving Gilgeous-Alexander in the chest.
"There was a lot of frustration out there, but we´ve got to - we know we talked about that before the series started," Finch said. "And we have to be able to kind of put that aside and get on with the next play."
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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, right, attempts a block on a shot by Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball Western Conference Finals playoff series Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) competes for a rebound against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2), guard Isaiah Joe (11) and forward Jalen Williams (8) during the first half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball Western Conference Finals playoff series Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, center, drives to the basket against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, left, forward Julius Randle (30) and guard Mike Conley (10) during the first half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball Western Conference Finals playoff series Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)