OKLAHOMA CITY -- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 of his 31 points in the second half, and the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference finals.
Gilgeous-Alexander, an MVP finalist, had 9 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. He made 8 of 14 field goals after halftime.
Julius Randle scored 28 points for Minnesota, but just eight in the second half. Anthony Edwards, who had been averaging 26.5 points per game in the playoffs, was held to 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting.
"Definitely got to shoot more, I only took 13 shots," Edwards said. "I'd say probably just get off the ball a little more, play without the ball. I think that'll be the answer, because playing on the ball they're just going to double you and sit in the gaps all day. Got to go watch some film, pick it apart and we'll figure it out."
Oklahoma City was just two days removed from eliminating Denver in Game 7 of the conference semifinals. Minnesota hadn't played since May 14.
Game 2 is Thursday in Oklahoma City.
"Good to get it out of our system in Game 1, we'll be ready for Game 2," Edwards said.
Minnesota led 48-44 at halftime as Randle scored 20 points and made 5 of 6 three-pointers. Gilgeous-Alexander was held to 11 points on 2-of-13 shooting before the break.
"To play as poorly as we did offensively in the first half and be down four was a major victory for us at halftime," Thunder Coach Mark Daigneault said. "The defense was a huge catalyst in that. I think offensively, it's a very different series, a very different team stylistically, and I just thought it took us some time to calibrate that they're a lot more pressure oriented on the perimeter, they're a lot more physical on the perimeter. ... I just thought it took us a second to calibrate to the opponent, but our defense allowed us the margin to do that."
The Thunder went on a 10-0 run in the third quarter to take a 66-60 lead. A short time later, Kenrich Williams, a rarely-used sub this postseason, hit a mid-range jumper and a three-pointer on consecutive possessions to put the Thunder up 71-62. Oklahoma City outscored Minnesota 32-18 in the third quarter to take a 76-66 advantage into the fourth.
A spinning dunk by Chet Holmgren in traffic put Oklahoma City ahead 86-75 and drew a roar from the crowd. Gilgeous-Alexander threw up a prayer as he was being fouled while falling to the floor. The ball rolled in, and he made the free throw to make it 91-77 with seven minutes remaining.
Jalen Williams matched the Timberwolves with 5 steals himself to go with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Holmgren tallied 15 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks, while fellow big man Isaiah Hartenstein added 12 points.
Isaiah Joe (Fort Smith Northside/Arkansas Razorbacks) came off the bench for the Thunder and tied a team high with eight rebounds. He scored seven points with a 4-of-4 effort from the free-throw line and a 1-of-2 mark from three-point range.
Outside of Randle and Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo was Minnesota's next leading scorer with nine points on 3-of-14 shooting. Mike Conley, who was born in Fayetteville, went 2 of 8 from the field and scored seven points for the Timberwolves.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, meets with his wife, Hailey Summers, and their son Ares Alexander following Game 1 of an NBA basketball Western Conference Finals playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, meets with his wife, Hailey Summers, and their son Ares Alexander following Game 1 of an NBA basketball Western Conference Finals playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) 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)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) 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 guard Donte DiVincenzo, left, applies pressure on Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 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 guard Donte DiVincenzo, left, applies pressure on Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 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 guard Anthony Edwards (5) works the floor against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren 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)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) works the floor against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren 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)