The Thunder went on a 14-2 run as the Wolves again looked helpless on the offensive end. Randle couldn’t get anything going with the way the Thunder were defending him. He had more turnovers (four) than made field goals (two) through three quarters. He spent the duration of one Wolves timeout discussing things with the officials.
The Wolves shot just 6-for-20 in the third, were 0-for-6 on three-point range and committed five turnovers, all of which were killers. The Thunder scored 12 points off those turnovers. Gilgeous-Alexander had 11 in the quarter. The Thunder closed on another 10-2 spurt to lead 93-71 after three.
After Game 1, Wolves guard Donte DiVincenzo said he felt the Wolves didn’t do a good job making the Thunder take the kind of shots the Wolves wanted them to take in the second half of Game 1.
The Thunder appeared to pick up where they left off early in the game, as they opened the night 10-for-15 and led 21-13.
McDaniels kept the Wolves in it early with a pair of threes as they tried to find their own offensive rhythm, which was harder to come by. The Wolves opened 10-for-28 in the first, but they were 5-for-11 from three-point range and had just two turnovers. That helped them stay within 29-25 after one.
The Thunder kept finding enough open holes in the Wolves’ defense, whether they went zone or man, to maintain a small lead in the second. But Gilgeous-Alexander got going at the end of the quarter, as he scored the Thunder’s last 11 points entering the half. That included two after the Wolves gave up the chance at the last shot on an offensive foul from DiVincenzo, and the Thunder led 58-50 at the half.