The Oklahoma City Thunder are entering Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in unfamiliar territory. After two convincing wins at home, they were blown off the floor in Game 3, suffering a 143–101 defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was their worst loss of the season and a wake-up call for the youngest team still standing in the postseason.
Game 4 tips off Monday night at 8:30 p.m. ET at Target Center.
Minnesota Timberwolves Reset the Series Narrative
The Timberwolves stormed out to a 24–9 lead in the opening minutes and never looked back, riding a wave of defensive pressure, aggressive closeouts, and crowd energy to a blowout win that has reshaped the tone of the series. It became a 72-41 halftime lead for Minnesota, with the game already being decided. Anthony Edwards led the way with 30 points on 12-of-17 shooting, adding nine rebounds and six assists. He had 16 points in the first quarter — more than the entire Thunder roster.
The Wolves took away everything that had worked for Oklahoma City through two games, including the mid-range pockets NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had feasted on. One first-half possession epitomized the shift: Gilgeous-Alexander rose for a mid-range jumper at the elbow — a look he typically drills — but second-guessed himself as Rudy Gobert closed the gap. He twisted in mid-air looking to pass, only to land with the ball still in his hands for a traveling violation.
“It happens. You’re never going to be perfect in life, in a long season,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “You get punched, it’s about getting back up and responding. That’s what the next challenge is. We got punched in the mouth, and next game we’re either going to get back up or not. We have a decision to make for sure.”
The Timberwolves took a back-to-basics approach defensively, ditching the zone they had unsuccessfully tried in Games 1 and 2. Instead, they relied on disciplined man-to-man pressure and sharp switching to disrupt OKC’s flow.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to throw your fastball,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “We were trying to do too much other junk out there at times.”
The result: Gilgeous-Alexander was held to 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting, with four turnovers and only four free throw attempts. The Thunder shot 40.7% from the floor and committed 14 turnovers, while Minnesota shot 57.3%, went 20-of-40 from deep, and out-rebounded OKC 50–31.
“We spent most of the game retrieving the ball from the net,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s challenging to score against a well-organized defense, no matter who you are in the NBA.”
A New Test for the Oklahoma City Thunder
This was the largest margin of defeat ever for a team that won 65 or more games in the regular season, and only the second time this postseason the Thunder lost by double digits. They suffered five double-digit losses in 14 total defeats during the regular season.
“We just didn’t bring it from an energy and focus standpoint,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They blitzed us pretty early, and then we were never able to get back because of it. They just came out with a sense of urgency, and we didn’t.”
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault didn’t dwell on the margin of defeat following the 42-point loss but instead focused on the broader perspective of a long playoff run. Speaking after the game, he framed the setback as part of the natural rhythm of postseason basketball and emphasized that his team has been resilient through adversity all season.
“We know the ebbs and flows of a playoff series,” Daigneault said. “We’ve been on the other end of games like this, and they haven’t been predictive of the next game either. We do have to look at it and address the things that went awry for us, but at the same time it’ll be a new game. It’ll be 0-0 when Game 4 starts.”
That same mindset was echoed by Chet Holmgren, who struggled to find a rhythm offensively and tied his postseason low with just three made field goals. Despite a tough performance, Holmgren remained focused on internal accountability and growth rather than frustration.
“We have a group of guys who really care,” Holmgren said. “At this point of the season and after a game like that, nobody’s thinking, ‘Just throw it away.’ There’s lessons in there where we can all be better.”
Minnesota Timberwolves Seek Consistency
While the Timberwolves were dominant, the focus quickly turned to sustainability. Edwards remained measured postgame, reminding reporters that the Timberwolves still trail in the series.
“We’re still down,” Edwards said. “It’s just one win. Can’t get too high on it. Don’t get too low. Just got to try to win another one, man. This team, they’re the best team in the NBA. So, we got to be able to beat this team more than one time, and it’s going to be tough.”
Julius Randle, who added 24 points, cautioned against complacency despite the dominant performance. A three-time All-Star with deep playoff experience, Randle stressed the importance of staying sharp against a Thunder team that had controlled much of the series prior to Saturday.
“They’re a great team, so we’ve got to go and do it again and play even better, play harder because we know they’re going to bring it next game,” Randle said.
Mike Conley credited the team’s return to fundamentals as the biggest difference. After experimenting with zone coverages in the first two games, Minnesota leaned on disciplined man-to-man defense and aggressive rotations to throw Oklahoma City off balance.
“What works for us is us playing hard man-to-man defense, playing in gaps, being in passing lanes and being physical,” Conley said. “We’ve got to continue to get better at some of the adjustments they’re going to do, but tonight I was happy with the way that we just kind of hit the reset button and locked in on our way of playing.”
Looking Ahead to Game 4
With the series at 2–1, Game 4 represents a pivotal swing. A Thunder win puts them one game away from the Finals, while a Timberwolves victory evens the series and sends it back to Oklahoma City with momentum on Minnesota’s side.
The key questions: Can Oklahoma City’s stars bounce back? Will Minnesota maintain its physicality and shooting touch? And how will each team adjust to what has now become a chess match of defensive schemes?
As Daigneault put it, “Ultimately, it will be a fresh start. Game 4 will begin at 0-0.”
