After getting blitzed by the Timberwolves and run off the floor in the opening frame of Game 3, the Oklahoma City Thunder went out of their way to make sure they were the aggressors in Game 4.
Especially when defending Anthony Edwards.
There was a defender in his air space every time he touched the ball. There was another defender in his face every time he came off a screen. There were a pack of defenders in the paint every time Edwards tried to get downhill.
It worked like a charm. Edwards never got into a rhythm. He looked completely out of sorts in the early stages of the game, then seemed to mentally check out in the late stages Monday at Target Center.
When the Timberwolves needed him most, Edwards managed a mere 16 points. Julius Randle, so important to Minnesota in their previous series victories over the Lakers and Golden State, was rendered completely ineffective before being benched down the stretch.
Not good enough. Not even close.
The result? A heartbreaking, [128-126 loss](https://www.twincities.com/2025/05/26/timberwolves-bench-outdueled-by-thunders-big-3-in-game-4/) for the Timberwolves that probably shouldn’t have been that close considering how poorly Edwards and Randle played for prolonged stretches.
Frankly, the only reason the Timberwolves were even in the game was because all Minnesota’s role players did their jobs.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker played the game of his life and finished with 23 points. Donte DiVincenzo busted out of a shooting slump and finished with 21 points. Naz Reid knocked down some shots and finished with 11 points. Terrence Shannon Jr. even contributed with some good minutes off the bench.
All of it went to waste because Edwards and Randle failed to do their part for the Timberwolves. Meanwhile, on the other end of the floor, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren were the sun, moon and the stars for the Thunder.
The box score speaks for itself; Edwards and Randle combined for 21 points, while Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren combined for 95.
That was the difference in the game.
It was an incredible display from Gilgeous-Alexander, in particular, as he finished with 40 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists. Not to be outdone, Williams finished with 34 points and Holmgren finished with 21, showing up like the best players are supposed to in the biggest moments.
The performance from league MVP Gilgeous-Alexander down the stretch was a microcosm of how dominant he was throughout the game. As frustrating it can be to watch him play when he’s flailing around, his ability to get buckets is undeniable, and he proved that by getting whatever he wanted in crunch time.
As for Edwards, as the Timberwolves were scratching and clawing in the final frame to mount a comeback, he fell asleep twice on the defensive end, allowing an easy dunk from Holmgren and an easy layup from Alex Caruso. That stretch was fitting considering the Timberwolves lost by a bucket.
Now the Timberwolves are on the brink of elimination in the Western Conference Finals.
The series is over unless Edwards and Randle show up in Game 5 on Thursday in Oklahoma City.
Originally Published: May 26, 2025 at 11:02 PM CDT