CNN
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The Oklahoma City Thunder hit the Minnesota Timber Wolves 114-88 and won a statement victory at home in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
Minnesota ended a fierce yet jarring first half with a four-point lead, but a second-half electric shock from the Thunder surpassed its opponents with 30 points in the third and fourth quarters, blew the Timberwolves.
After a rough start off on offensive, the theme was the whole team – Shy Gilgaus Alexander scored 20 of his game-high 31 points in the second half, leading the Thunder to victory, adding five rebounds, nine assists and three steals.
“We’re trying to play for our identity,” Gilgeous-Alexander, who missed 11 of his 13 shots in the first half, told reporters. “We did a good job of defence with it, and our defense definitely gave us early in the game and kept us there.
“I was just offensive and trying to get to my spot. Obviously, it wasn’t falling like normal, so I would like it, but that’s part of the game.
“(Later) nothing has changed in my way of thinking. I tried to stay offensive, I kept trusting my work, and that worked for me.”
OKC coach Mark Deenoo said it was a “big victory” to drop by just four points on a break after a poor first half from his team.
“That defense was a huge catalyst in that regard,” he added. “We thought it took a second to calibrate our opponents, but our defense allowed us to do that.”
Jalen Williams, who continues his quick NBA ascension, has 19 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and five steals, while Chet Holmgren adds 15 points.
The Thunder’s relentless defense stifled the Timberwolves, especially in the second half, limiting Minnesota superstar Anthony Edwards to just 18 points with a 13th of a shooting.
Julius Randle went on to an impressive postseason form with a team-high 28 points (including 3-6-6) to go with three rebounds, but scored eight of those points in the second half.
“I definitely had to shoot more,” Edwards said after the game. “I took a 13 f**king shot and say I would probably just go down a little more, I’ll play without the ball.
“I think that’s the answer, because you play with the ball and they’re going to have double gaps all day. So I have to go and watch the movie and break it down. We get that.”
With less than a minute left in the first quarter, Edwards was forced to head to the locker room for treatment after rolling his right ankle on a drive to the basket.
However, he played the rest of the game back and told reporters that he didn’t affect him in the second half.
Game 2 will take place on Thursday in Oklahoma City.