By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 20:15 BST, 21 May 2025 | Updated: 20:15 BST, 21 May 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Minnesota Timberwolves must solve Oklahoma City´s \`AAU´ defense to avoid a 2-0 deficit in the Western Conference finals.
Minnesota´s Anthony Edwards used the term to describe Oklahoma City's young, aggressive unit after the Thunder held the Timberwolves to 34.9% shooting in [a 114-88 victory in Game 1](https://apnews.com/article/timberwolves-thunder-score-nba-playoffs-a29e30ebc33c8525536ca091d5b509d1) on Tuesday.
"I mean, it´s hard to process because it was different every time," Edwards said after Game 1. "Heavy in the gaps, sometimes trap the ball screens sometimes don´t. Sometimes just run and jump. It´s kind of similar to like AAU. They remind me of like an AAU defensive team. Just run and jump. Fly around. It´s pretty good."
Edwards said the first key for him is to be more aggressive. He didn´t like that he scored 18 points on just 13 shots in a Game 1 loss, well below his normal output. He said his adjustment for Game 2 on Thursday night will be a simple one.
"Play without the ball a little more, get a little more cardio in," Edwards said. "Should be good."
Minnesota coach Chris Finch said there´s plenty of ways for the Timberwolves to improve. They made just 15 of 51 3-pointers in the opener and committed 17 turnovers.
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)
"We´ve got to pick up our decision-making," Finch said. "We´ve definitely got to play with more force. We´ve got to play with more pass-pass combinations. We got to go somewhere a little bit quicker."
Oklahoma City leads the league in defensive rating by a large margin in the playoffs. The Thunder lead all playoff teams with 10.8 steals per game and an opponent field-goal percentage of .407 in the postseason.
Lu Dort and Alex Caruso are two of the league´s best on-ball defenders. Caruso is versatile enough to defend guards or a big like Denver's Nikola Jokic, as he did last series.
Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous Alexander are quick and strong and are good in passing lanes - Williams had five steals in Game 1. Cason Wallace is an exceptional athlete. That allows the Thunder to keep fresh bodies on an opponent´s best players.
In the paint, Chet Holmgren has been one of the league´s top rim protectors and Isaiah Hartenstein has been one of its top rebounders.
The result can be overwhelming. Several Minnesota players struggled with their shooting on Tuesday. Mike Conley made 2 of 8 shots, Donte DiVincenzo made 3 of 14 and Nickeil Walker-Alexander made 3 of 11.
Edwards said it was more about the Timberwolves than the Thunder.
"They got great looks, just couldn´t make them," Edwards said. "A lot of them went in and out. And that´s going to help us. That´s going to help me and Ju (Julius Randle) because they usually make those shots. So we´re not really worried about them making shots. We´ll be all right."
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault expects the Timberwolves to adjust.
"This is a really, really good team that´s got great resolve," he said. "These are great players. They have a great coach, tactically. So they´re going to have the next pitch that we´re going have to hit. We are aware of that, so we have to get to work."
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