Minnesota ran up 72 points, and led by as much as 35, in a stunning offensive and defensive first-half display - where Anthony Edwards (20), Julius Randle (10 points), and Naz Reid (10 points) nearly matched Oklahoma City’s output (41). Outside of a three minute blip of production OKC had to start the second half, the unfazed Wolves outmuscled (50 rebounds to 31) and outshot (57% to 40%) the Thunder to get to garbage time sooner (2:08 in the third) and earn their older roster some needed rest.
Minnesota’s Edwards (30 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) and Randle (24 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) received more than enough support tonight with four other players hitting double digits - Nickeil Alexander-Walker (12 points and 3 rebounds), Jaden McDaniels (10 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists), Reid (10 points and 8 rebounds), and rookie Terrence Shannon, Jr. (15 points and 1 steal), in particular, outscored any and all Thunder.
The Thunder’s stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (14 points and 6 assists), Jalen Williams (13 points and 4 rebounds), and Chet Holmgren (10 points and 5 rebounds) were thoroughly outplayed for the first time in the Conference Finals.
Edwards and Randle gave their expectant home fans the hot start they needed by scoring 16 of the first 18 points. Gilgeous-Alexander seemed to be unsure of himself as he threw up some awkward misses around a point-blank lay-in. Just as I was thinking “the home team’s role players tend to come through,” Donte DiVincenzo hit a corner three to make it a 21-9 game. The slightly rattled Thunder ceded a handful of turnovers - with even Rudy Gobert getting in on the action. OKC passed the 10 point mark 9:44 into game action. After his pull-up three, Mike Breen declared it “_an Anthony Edwards eruption here in the first_” and Minnesota left it up 34-14, and Edwards 16 - OKC 14.
Oklahoma City cobbled together a brief 6-0 run and bodied up Minnesota more on defense. Shannon, Jr. made the most of his opportunity to play lock down defense while putting up nine impactful points. The Wolves then piled on to their early lead and nudged their advantage up to 28. Each time OKC scored once, it seemed like the Wolves would answer with several more in response. Minnesota went to the break up 72-41.
OKC strung together an 11-2 run to cast slight doubt on the Wolves’ aspirations, but then Edwards continued his superb playmaking and helped Minnesota answer with their own 18-4 run to put the game safely out of reach. Randle’s pair of buckets essentially caused the Thunder to wave the proverbial white flag.
**Observations**
* Mike Malone looks as wild-eyed on the ESPN panel as he does on the sidelines.
* I feel so spoiled by the great analysts and play-by-play broadcasters of my youth and young adulthood, but it still feels unfair that Richard Jefferson and Reggie Miller are who we have final two rounds.
* **Sequence of the Game #1**: It really should have been the entire first quarter, but for one specific sequence: halfway through the opening stanza, Edwards scurried past two Wolves for a loose ball, and soared in for a two-handed slam.
* **Sequence of the Game #2**: Edwards, partway into the third period, evoked memories of Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan by dribbling around several defenders on the left wing and got to the basket for a pretty reverse.
**Game Rundown**
Harteinstein was the recipient of a nice lob from Holmgren, and followed that with his patented funky-hook for the game’s first scores. Luguentz Dort hit his first attempt, but his foot was ruled on the sideline, and his next one bricked off the rim. Edwards had a stellar sequence that included a runner, catch-and-shoot three, steal and transition dunk, another three, and a less electric steal and dunk. Harteinstein doinked his next lob attempt. Following DiVincenzo’s example, Reid hit his first attempt from the left side. Alex Caruso’s straightaway three broke a 5+ minute scoring drought, but Alexander-Walker’s corner three made it 30-12. Gilgeous-Alexander committed an uncharacteristic 8-second violation, and the Wolves finished their best quarter of the series so far up 20.
Shannon, Jr. threw home a tough and-1 and pull-up from the free throw line to make it 39-14. Jalen Williams made his first points 13 minutes in with consecutive trips to the stripe. Minnesota made a backcourt violation on a handoff - a YMCA mistake, but Shannon, Jr. then forced Caruso into an airball. The Thunder were able to piece together a 6-0 run from freebies. Conley’s stepback three and Shannon, Jr.’s transition bucket increased the Thunder deficit to 24. Minnesota surpassed 50 points before the Thunder arrived to 25. Gilgeous-Alexander bricked an open three and committed a junior high travel (jumping up and coming down with the ball). After Gilgeous-Alexander _did_ hit a three, Reid matched him on the next possession. Alexander-Walker threw in two pretty floaters, and Randle muscled home two buckets of his own to make the lead swell. The bedraggled Thunder limped to the break down 31.
Oklahoma City started the third encouragingly with a 11-2 burst after Isaiah Joe replaced Hartenstein. Edwards dribbled around and through four OKC defenders to bank home a nifty reverse and add cushion to their lead. His pull up three made it 84-52 and undid all of the Thunder progress in minutes. The Thunder waved the white towel and put in their bench lineup with 2+ minutes left in the third.