After a convincing 143-101 victory in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals, Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves entered Game 4 on Monday night with plenty of confidence as they sought to even the series at two games apiece. But the Oklahoma City Thunder, aware their Game 3 performance was not acceptable on this stage, were ready to bounce back at Target Center in Minneapolis.
In a back-and-forth Game 4, the Thunder outlasted the Timberwolves to take control of the West finals. Oklahoma City's 128-126 victory places it one win away from the NBA Finals -- in large part because the Thunder were able to keep Edwards quiet.
Edwards dominated Game 3, scoring 30 points in 30 minutes on 12-of-17 shooting. Game 4 was a different story; Edwards shot just 5-of-13 and scored 16 points, as analysts slammed him for failing to assert himself in a crucial game.
The Thunder's stars did not have that problem. Newly-minted MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 40 points, while Jalen Williams scored 34. And after a disappointing Game 3, Chet Holmgren "changed the game" for Oklahoma City -- as Edwards himself said.
“I think that changed the game," Edwards told reporters about Holmgren's defensive impact and putbacks at the rim.
Holmgren, a Minneapolis native, scored 21 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and blocked three shots -- including a vital rejection on Jaden McDaniels with 41 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. An admission postgame by Gilgeous-Alexander makes this stat line all the more remarkable.
"We don't really call plays for him. He rarely gets anything set for him," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "He's just out there playing on feel and affecting things at a high level, whether it's making his shots, blocking shots, offensive rebounding, defensive rebounding. He's just a winning player."
After he scored 10 points in just 21 minutes in the thumping Game 3 loss, Holmgren told the media that his mindset changed entering Game 4 -- and his all-encompassing effort has the Thunder one win away from their first NBA Finals appearance in 13 years.
"Last game wasn't how I wanted to show up in my home city," Holmgren said postgame. "It was great to be able to bounce back this game and come away with the win, that's the most important thing.