**Game 4 Heartbreak: Wolves Collapse Late, Now Teeter on the Brink**
Let’s be honest — if you’re a Timberwolves fan, that one’s going to stick with you for a while. Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals wasn’t a gut punch. It was a slow, agonizing squeeze — like watching your favorite team walk barefoot across a field of LEGO bricks for 48 minutes and then trip at the finish line.
After the most dominant win in franchise playoff history — a Game 3 _thunder_clap so lopsided it made you wonder if OKC was still in the locker room — the Wolves came into Game 4 with a chance to tie the series, seize the momentum, and maybe — just maybe — put some real doubt into the hearts of the baby-faced juggernaut from Oklahoma City.
Instead? A 128–126 loss that felt like _death by a thousand self-inflicted cuts._
Turnovers. Missed free throws. Passive first halves. One more Julius Randle disappearing act. And just enough missed assignments and broken plays to keep the Target Center crowd from entering full delusional belief mode.
The Wolves now find themselves down 3–1, needing three straight wins to reach the [NBA Finals](https://www.sbnation.com/nba-finals). Two of those would have to come on the road in Oklahoma City.
So yeah. Not ideal.
But before we look forward, let’s head to the Game 4 autopsy table and hand out the grades.
### **Game 4 Report Card**
**Nickeil Alexander-Walker: A+**
This was a “remember my name” performance. NAW led the team in scoring with 23 points, went 9-of-15 from the field, 5-of-8 from three, dished six assists, grabbed four boards, and _led the team in plus-minus at +6_. In a game where the two stars were MIA, NAW played like the cool cousin who shows up to the family reunion and quietly destroys everyone at backyard basketball. Yes, his cousin SGA dropped 40, but let’s not pretend NAW didn’t win his minutes and keep Minnesota alive when things got weird.
**Jaden McDaniels: A-**
He came out swinging, dropping 10 points in the first quarter and finishing with 22 on 9-of-15 shooting. He had four steals and knocked down three threes. The problem? His primary assignments — SGA and Jalen Williams — _combined for 74 points_. That’s not totally on him, but it’s hard to give a full “A” to your defensive ace when the other team’s wings cook like it’s a Sunday potluck. Still, he was aggressive and brought real juice early, which more Wolves needed to match.
**Terrence Shannon Jr.: B+**
I continue to love what this kid brings. He’s fearless, he’s fast, he plays downhill, and he doesn’t look scared of the moment. TSJ notched 9 points in limited minutes, got to the line, and gave the Wolves an energy boost when they needed it. Sure, two turnovers in a short stretch hurt a bit, but when the stars are flailing, you need role players like Shannon to shake things up. He did just that.
**Rudy Gobert: B-**
The good: 5-of-8 from the field, 9 rebounds, a few solid contests, and a +4 plus-minus. The bad: 3-of-6 from the free-throw line (every miss felt like it cost them the game), and a couple clunky turnovers. When you lose by two and your max-contract center leaves three points at the stripe, it stings. But this wasn’t on Rudy. He did his job — mostly.
**Donte DiVincenzo: B-**
On paper? Great game. 21 points, 5-of-8 from three, 5 assists. In a vacuum, this is the spacing and scoring Minnesota desperately needed from him. But the problem with Donte has never been offense — it’s defense. Again, he posted the _worst plus-minus on the team (-7)_, and OKC _hunted_ him like he was wearing a target on his jersey. Every time SGA needed a bucket, the Thunder ISO’d him onto Donte and let the sauce simmer. He’s an enigma right now — feast or foul. And the foul sometimes outweighs the feast.
**Naz Reid: B-**
Solid. Efficient. Quiet. 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting, six rebounds, hit a three. Nothing to criticize. Nothing to rave about. We’ve seen Naz explode before, and when the Wolves’ stars disappear, those moments become essential. He didn’t give them enough to tip the scale, but he also didn’t lose them the game.
**Mike Conley: C**
19 minutes. 6 points. 3 assists. The only Timberwolf with a _positive plus-minus in all four games of this series_. At this point, it’s _wild_ how little he’s playing. Yes, he’s older. Yes, he’s not scoring 20. But the offense runs smoother when he’s out there. The Wolves don’t panic. The turnovers settle. The floor gets organized. Why isn’t Finch riding him more in close games? It’s a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in an ice pack.
**Anthony Edwards: D+**
Painful to write. Ant’s stat line: 16 points, 5-of-13 from the field, 1-of-7 from three, 5 turnovers. At halftime? He had two shot attempts. I repeat: _two._ You’re the face of the franchise. You’re the guy. You’re him. You don’t wait to get punched before you throw one. The second half was better — Edwards turned up the aggression and the Wolves outscored OKC by 7 — but it wasn’t enough. Too little. Too late. When the Wolves lose a must-win by _two_ and your best player goes ghost mode for 24 minutes? You get the D. Harsh, but fair. Greatness requires responsibility.
**Julius Randle: F**
I don’t know what else to say. One made shot. 1-of-7 shooting. 5 points. 5 turnovers. And for the second time this series, benched in crunch time. This was the guy you traded for. The guy you handed the co-star role to. The guy who looked _awesome_ against the [Lakers](https://www.silverscreenandroll.com) and Warriors. And in your biggest game of the year? He melted. If this were school, Julius would be asking for extra credit just to avoid summer school. Instead, he’s jeopardizing the entire Wolves season. Period.
### **So What Now?**
Well… the Wolves are officially backed into a corner.
Down 3–1. Two of the next three games would be in OKC. The margin for error is not thin — it’s gone.
But here’s the thing: **they’re not dead yet.**
This team has shown us flashes of brilliance. That Game 3 blowout wasn’t a fluke. It was what happens when Minnesota plays connected, disciplined, and aggressive basketball. But this isn’t a league where you can coast on your best performance. The playoffs are about _consistency_. About showing up night after night. About stars _being stars_.
SGA? He’s doing it.
Jalen Williams? Emerging.
Ant and Randle? We’re still waiting.
If the Wolves want to make this a series again, it starts Wednesday night in Oklahoma City. It starts with urgency. With execution. With Anthony Edwards understanding that the first quarter matters just as much as the fourth.
Forget all three games. Win _one_. That’s all you can do now.
Win one and bring it back to Target Center.
Win one and give this franchise, this fan base, this locker room _hope_.
Because if the Wolves go out like this — not with a fight, but with turnovers and passivity and stars folding under pressure — then it becomes the same old story.
And I don’t know about you, but I’m not ready to write the ending yet.