Are there any themes to carry over from a 40-point win?
We were certainly due to find out on Monday night after Saturday’s blowout in Minneapolis that saw the [Minnesota Timberwolves](https://www.canishoopus.com) climb their way into their series with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Coming off a franchise playoff-high 143 points, the offense proved not to be the early issue for the Wolves, but it was their previous warts that have been exposing them for the entire postseason.
You guessed it! Rebounding, turnovers, and lazier defense saw the Thunder jump out to a 37-30 first-quarter lead. The Wolves finished the opening frame with seven turnovers (OKC generated six points off of them), conceded five offensive rebounds, and allowed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams to get in a rhythm as they both finished 13 points in the first quarter.
Second chance points continued to be the backbreaker through the beginning of the third quarter.
Rudy Gobert finished the first half with zero defensive rebounds, and an inexcusable number for someone with as distinct of a size advantage as he has on the floor. Granted, the Thunder made a concerted part of their game plan to draw him out with Chet Holmgren and play Isaiah Hartenstein for fewer minutes. It drew Gobert out and allowed SGA to find most of his points in the paint.
Despite mental errors and lax on-ball play (Anthony Edwards ended the half with just four shots), the Wolves still found themselves in just an eight-point hole.
The activity for the Wolves’ best player would pick up slightly in the third quarter. It became simple; if Anthony Edwards isn’t using his gravity as a weapon and trying to drive production while not scoring, the Timberwolves were going to head back to Oklahoma City down 3-1.
So many times in the second half, the Wolves were able to pull the score to a tie game, or within one possession, but it came down to which team’s best players would end up bringing them home.
All fourth quarter, the Thunder would answer the bell with Julius Randle (1-7, 5 points) on the bench.
Whether it was a Chet Holmgrem dunk to put the game at nine points, or two daggers from Jalen Williams at the end of the game to keep the lead at the ever-so-stubborn seven points, the story is simple.
The top two players came to play for Oklahoma City, and not for Minnesota.
##### **This story will be updated throughout the night after coach and player media availabilities.**
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The Wolves are now backed into a corner down 3-1 in the series, needing to win the next three games to advance. If they can do it, it will start Wednesday in Oklahoma City for Game 5. The game begins at 7:30 PM CT on ESPN.