“We definitely need to find a rhythm in this series,” coach Chris Finch said. “Every series is a little bit different in how people guard you and what-not. I thought we came out and tried to play the same way we always did, and that wasn’t going to work tonight. We’ve got to figure out a different rhythm to play.”
There was predictable frustration with the whistle Gilgeous-Alexander was getting, especially as Jaden McDaniels fouled out with 5 minutes, 21 seconds to play. Gilgeous-Alexander went to the free-throw line for 11 of his points as the Wolves held him to 10-for-27 shooting from the floor. Finch didn’t take the bait when asked afterward about the calls Gilgeous-Alexander was getting.
“We talked about that before the series started. We have to be able to put that to the side and get on with a next-play mentality,” Finch said.
That’s because that generous whistle wasn’t why the Wolves lost. The Wolves scored just 20 points in the paint as the Thunder dared them to beat them from the outside. It was a prudent gamble as the Wolves rushed and clanked shot after shot. They were 15-for-51 from three-point range (29%). Oklahoma City focused on Anthony Edwards and Randle in the second half and limited their shots. Randle had just eight points after halftime; Edwards had 18 points in the game on just 5-for-13 shooting.
“I definitely got to shoot more,” Edwards said. “I only took 13 … shots. ... Just get off the ball a little more, play without the ball. I think that will be the answer. Because playing on the ball, they’re just going to double and sit in the gaps all day. So, got to go watch some film and pick it apart. We’ll figure it out.”
That last sentence is where a lot of the Wolves were after this game. It wasn’t a forlorn locker room; there was no sense that the Thunder were an unsolvable puzzle. Much like Game 1 against the Warriors, when the Wolves missed a lot of shots, they feel like they will regroup before Game 2.