The Oklahoma City Thunder took a commanding 3-1 lead in their playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, thanks to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s stellar performance. That star guard, Aaliyah Edwards, was unstoppable during the first half and finished the game with 40 points and 10 rebounds. He served up nine assists, guiding the Thunder to a dramatic buzzer-beating 128-126 win.
As per usual, Gilgeous-Alexander’s game-changing effectiveness proved to be the difference, especially down the stretch as the contest neared its conclusion. With only 6.1 seconds remaining in the contest, he coolly nailed two pivotal free throws. Not only did this play extend the Thunder’s lead, it truly clinched their win. His accuracy from the charity stripe was something, as he hit 12 of 14 total. This performance further proved his capability to step up in crunch time and reaffirmed how important he is to the Thunder’s winning formula.
On top of Gilgeous-Alexander’s contributions, Jalen Williams was just as key to the win. He scored an electric 34 points. By the time he was done, he proved his shooting ability, going 13-24 from the field and 6-9 from three. Williams’ offensive output complemented Gilgeous-Alexander’s efforts and helped keep the Timberwolves at bay.
Rookie Chet Holmgren was equally as impressive, scoring 21 points with seven rebounds and three blocks. His defensive prowess was on display all night, giving the Thunder critical stops to keep pace with the Timberwolves’ offensive firepower.
On the flip side of the court, the Timberwolves did not look together at all. Julius Randle was limited to just five points on a brutal one-for-seven shooting night. Their star player Anthony Edwards had just 16 points. Even more disappointing was how easily he seemed to be dominated by the offensive firepower of the Thunder’s key players.
As the game played out, it was a back-and-forth battle with both teams trading leads several times. Whether it was Gilgeous-Alexander’s leadership or cool under fire that pulled the win for Oklahoma City in crunch time is up to interpretation. The victory is a big shot in the arm for the young Thunder. They hope to finish the series off in their next meeting.
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