Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lit up the second half to power the Oklahoma City Thunder past the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 in a dominant Game 1 win of the Western Conference finals.
With the stakes raised and the spotlight bright, Gilgeous-Alexander stepped into his MVP-calibre role after halftime, dropping 20 of his 31 points in a commanding stretch that blew the game wide open. He added nine assists and found his rhythm just when the Thunder needed it.
At halftime, the Timberwolves were in control. Julius Randle had poured in 20 points, including five from deep, helping Minnesota edge ahead 48-44. Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander struggled to find his touch, going just 2-for-13 from the field.
But when the second half tipped off, Oklahoma City flipped the script. A 10-0 run midway through the third quarter shifted momentum, and little-used Kenrich Williams provided a spark off the bench with a midrange jumper and a three in quick succession.
The Thunder outscored Minnesota 32-18 in that pivotal third quarter, entering the final frame with a 10-point cushion. From there, they never looked back.
Chet Holmgren electrified the home crowd with a spinning dunk in traffic that extended the lead to double digits. Then, Gilgeous-Alexander produced a moment of magic, falling to the floor, he banked in a tough shot through contact and converted the and-one to make it 91-77.
For Minnesota, it was a night of missed opportunities. Randle added just eight points after halftime, and Anthony Edwards, who entered the series averaging 26.5 points in the playoffs, was limited to 18 on just 13 shots.
Oklahoma City looked remarkably fresh considering their dramatic Game 7 win over Denver just two days earlier. Minnesota, idle since May 14, looked out of sync.
Game 2 tips off Thursday in Oklahoma City, and if the Thunder continue with this energy, the Timberwolves have serious work to do.
