Thunder 128 vs 126 Timberwolves summary, stats, scores and highlights | NBA Playoffs Game 4
The Oklahoma City Thunder took a commanding 3-1 series lead with a road win in Minnesota thanks to two 30 point performances from their two stars.
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Injury report: Wolves
The Wolves are in the same boat as the Thunder. They have stayed healthy all postseason long and that means they can dig deep down into their bench. That has been one of the most important parts of their return run to the Western Conference Finals and as long as they can stay healthy they are going to know they will have a chance against the Thunder.
Injury report: Thunder
The Thunder are a fantastic team with incredible players. Each of the players know their role and they complete each other perfectly. That’s one recipe to win an NBA Title. The other, which may be more important than anything else, is how healthy you can keep you team and the Thunder have kept healthy all post season long. Nikola Topic is the only one on the injury report and he’s been on the list for the last few months with a torn ACL.
Caruso cause
The Thunder are led by SGA and Jalen Williams but without their role players they wouldn’t be in this position. One of the most important players on this team is Alex Caruso. The man they call “Unc” because he’s the oldest player on the team has been pivotal off the bench. Now there are a couple of Thunder fans have pledged to shave their heads if the Thunder win the title. Our Paul Reidy has more.
3-1 series history
If, and it’s a big if, the Thunder can pull of the win tonight in Minnesota they would take a 3-1 lead in the series and that would essentially give them a foot and a half in the NBA Finals. Only 13 teams have recovered from a 3-1 deficit and the last time it happened was in the bubble when the Denver Nuggets did it twice in back to back series back in the bubble. It’s a 95.6% success rate for teams who have a 3-1 lead after four games. That’s what the Wolves will have to try to avoid tonight in this “must win” match up in Game 4.
Star watch: Thunder
When you look at the stat sheet from SGA, you have to realize that he didn’t play 4th quarter of the blow out loss from Minnesota. He had just 14 points in just 28 minutes, but the Thunder will take that as a scratch game, just like SGA will. He may have a quiet game here or there but he always bounces back. Tonight you have to know that the MVP of the league is going to have a big game, but will it be enough to beat the Wolves on their home court and take a 3-1 lead back to their crib on Wednesday night?
Star watch: Wolves
Antony Edwards needed to look like the Anthony Edwards from last year’s postseason. He was great in Game 2, posting 32, 9 and 6 but the Wolves lost that game down the stretch before returning home. At the Target Center Edwards shined, starting hot from the field and posting 30, 9 and 6 assists. He was one of a handful of Wolves players that were dialed in from the three point line, going 5/8 from downtown. Before that he was just 4 of 17 through the first two games. Tonight, he is going to need another brilliant all around performance if Minnesota is going to send this series back to OKC all even.
The Wolves had one final desperation heave down the court at the end of the game, but the pass was deflected and the Thunder sealed their road win to secure a 3-1 series lead at home. According to NBA stats, 94% of teams have held on to that lead in the playoffs, and history seems to be on OKC side as the head back home with a chance to close out the series early on.
Even when it looks like SGA is losing control, he makes the right decision and never looks like he loses his cool. He slipped and pulled this pass off to Williams by throwing it between the legs of the defender. This three ball stretched it out to a 7 point lead and bit into a run that the Thunder were keeping.
SGA scored 40 points and was one rebound away from a triple double in what was one of the best performances we have seen in a Conference Final in a while. He went 13-30, and hit 12 of his 14 FTs. He is the MVP and he is a game away from being an NBA Finalist.
The Wolves would pull back and even up the game, but they could never get ahead. The Thunder had and answer for everything Minnesota threw at them. Most of the time it was SGA and Williams, but when it wasn't them it was Chet making the clutch plays.
Chet Holmgren was the X factor in Game 4. He is playing the same role Kristaps Porzingis played for the Celtics last year. He had 21 points and 7 rebounds and some big buckets in some huge moments, not to mention his 3 blocks.
On a night that Anthony Edwards had 16 points and Julius Randle had 5, it was Jaden McDaniels and the bench that came through and kept this game close. Donte DiVincenzo had 23 and Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the team with 23, but the Wolves needed ANT to step up in the biggest home game of the season.
The Thunder took a 7 point lead into the second quarter and were able to hold them off the entire way. Jalen Williams and SGA were huge, combining for 74 points in the Game 4 win, but it was guys like Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace that won the game on Monday night.
After scoring just 14 points in Game 3 on Saturday night, SGA went into the Target Center on a mission. He had 13 points at the end of the first quarter and that would be just the start of a monster night.
The Oklahoma City Thunder went into Minnesota and beat the Timberwolves on their home court to take a 3-1 series lead in the Western Conference Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams both had 30+ in the narrow win on the road.
Jaden McDaniels came out hot for the Wolves and set the tone early on for the home side, but even in the first quarter the home seemed to be chasing the game. McDaniels had 10 points in the first 12 minutes, but MIN had 7 turnovers heading into the second quarter and that was one of the stories of the game.
IT'S ALL OVER FROM MINNESOTA!!!
OKC is going back home with a 3-1 series lead in the Western Conference Finals.
0.3 is put on the clock but the lob on the inbound is defelected as time runs out!
There is going to be 0.1 to go, but a fan caught the ball before it hit the ground and they are going to have a look to see if they need to put more time on the clock.
Edwards to the line after the foul on Caruso and he hits and misses one, but SGA got the rebound and threw the ball down court.
SGA fouled by Randle with 6.1 seconds and he hits both FTs.
Quick foul by OKC on Reid and he hits both FTs.
SGA to the line and he hits one of two FTs, so MIN has a chance!
Gobert with a quick dunk off the offensive rebound.
Thunder timeout with 9.2 to go.
Timeout Wolves with 14.1 to go.
SGA to the line after the foul on Alexander-Walker, and he hits both FTs.
McDaniels hits a three ball just seconds after stripping SGA!
27 seconds to go!
McDaniels saw a path to the bucket and took his space for a lay up.
Williams with another three ball!!! He's got 31 on the night!
Alexander-Walker from the side and gets into the paint where he hits an off balanced lay up!
Williams into the paint and he floats it up and .
Edwards to the corner for DiVincenzo who strings the three ball! He's got 21!
SGA to the line after a foul on Alexander-Walker and he hits both FTs.
McDaniels drives to the cup and lays it up from the right side of the lane.
Williams with a massive three ball from the wing after SGA slipped and bounced it out to the perimeter!
Timeout Wolves with 3:32 to go.
Holmgren with a dump down to Caruso on the baseline for the lay up.
McDaniels in the corner off the kick out from Gobert and he nails a triple!
SGA backing dowon and he hits the fader on the baseline.
DiVincenzo was left open in the corner and he drilled the three ball off the feed form Alexander-Walker!
Edwards from the top of the key and hit the pull up three ball!
Holmgren missed the three, but Wallace picked up the offensive board and found Chet slashing to the rack for the slam!
Holmgren's deep shot was a two with a foot on the line so they take a point off the board.
Holmgren nails a three ball from the top of they key off the dish from SGA!
Timeout Wolves with 7:00 to go in the 4th quarter!
SGA pulls up from the elbow and sinks it. He's got 31 on the night.
Edwards skips to the cup and lays it up and in.
Caruso was left wide open down low and Williams dumped it off after drawing the defenders off the penetration.
Reid to the line after the foul on SGA and he hits both FTs.
The foul was reveresed but it is still Wolves ball since it went out of bounds off Holmgren.
Holmgren was called for the foul on Randle but the Thunder are going to challenge that call with 8:14 to go in the 4th quarter.
Williams missed the lay up but Holmgren came screaming in for the tip slam!
Edwards missed the lay up but DiVincenzo was there for the offensive rebound and put back.
Williams pulls up from the elbow and hits the mid range jumper.
Alexander-Walker sinks a huge three from the wing off the offensive rebound from Reid! He's got 21 on the night!
Williams fouled by Shannon and he hits both FTs.
Alexander-Walker with an up and under down low on the baseline.
Williams kicks it out and finds Holmgren for the three ball from the wing!
Shannon to the line and he drills both FTs after the foul on Williams.
Williams with the offensive rebound and put back. That's their 17th offensive rebound.
WE ARE HEADING TO THE THRID QUARTER FROM MINNESOTA!!
SGA ends the quarter with a leaner from outside the lane!
Wallace sends Edwards to the line where he hits both FTs.
DiVincenzo finds Edwards soaring through the lane and he rises high to lay it in.
SGA pulls up from the mid range and he's got 27 on the night.
Alexander-Walker cork screwing to the bucket and he lays it up and in.
Holmgren puts it on the deck and slams it home after sending Reid to the ground. 7-0 run from OKC.
Timeout Wolves with 2:12 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Caruso drills another huge three ball from the corner!!! How big has be been in this playoff run??
Wallace gets the inbound and puts up a fader from outside the lane.
DiVincenzo from the same spot and he sinks his second straight triple try!!!
Timeout Thunder with 4:25 to go in the 3rd quarter.
SGA into the lane and spins and hits over ANT.
Edwards found a wide open DiVincenzo in the corner and he strings the three!
Extra pass from McDaniels down low and Gobert gets a short floater in traffic to go on the baseline.
Alexander-Walker sinks a three ball from the wing and he's perfect from DT.
Williams spinning on the block and he hits the off balanced leaner off the glass.
Gobert to the line after the foul on Williams and he hits both FTs.
Wallace pulls up in the paint and he hits the short jumper.
Wallace with an offensive board, and he finds Williams who steps into a three from the wing!
SGA with his first bucket of the half and that quiets down the crowd with a mid range jumper.
Gobert goes right at Hartenstein and he throws it down over the big man.
Edwards drives and kicks out for Conley in the corner for three!
Timeout Thunder with 9:47 to go in the 3rd quarter.
ANT goes right at the rack and lays it up off the glass. He ad just two FT attempts in that first half.
Gobert with the offensive rebound and put back
Caruso drills the three ball to start the quarter and the lead is up to double digits for the first time in the game.
WE ARE BACK IN MINNESOTA FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!!!
SGA just kept going and going at the defense on the Wolves defense. He drew a few fouls and went to the line 6 times. He's got 21 at the half.
Williams had 13 of his 15 first half points in the opening quarter. As always he was doing it on both ends. He's got 2 steals as the Wolves turned it over 12 times in the half.
The Wolves turned the ball over 7 times in the first quarter, which allowed the Thunder to build up a little lead at the end of the opening 12 minutes.
SGA had 13 points in the first quarter after scoring 14 points in the entire Game 3 on Saturday.
Jalen McDaniels came out red hot for the Wolves in this Game 3 and set the tone for the home side. He had 10 first quarter points, but it was a two man game for OKC that got them out ahead.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST HALF AND THE THUNDER LEAD BY 8!!!
Reid called for the foul down low and Holmgren goes to the line where he hits one of two FTs.
SGA slices through the lane and he lays it up and in off the glass.
Randle back to the line and he hits both FTs after the foul on Dort.
Randle to the line after the break and he hits one of two FTs.
Timeout Thunder with 2:52 to go in the half. FTs coming for MIN after the foul on SGA.
Gobert going to the line after the offensive rebound and he hits one of two after the foul on Williams.
Gobert sends SGA to the line where he hits both FTs.
DiVincenzo to the line after the foul on SGA and he hits both FTs.
SGA pulls the trigger from downtown and hits the pul up three ball!
SGA to the line after the foul on his cousin, and he hits one of two FTs.
McDaniels got the dump down from DiVincenzo and put it up in traffic from the baseline.
Holmgren from the wing and he answers back with a three ball!
Edwards drives and kicks to Alexander-Walker for the three ball at the top of they key!
Edwards to the line out of the break and he hits both FTs.
Edwards heading to the line after the foul on Dort, but we are going to go to break first with 6:45 to go in the 1st half.
Wallace drills a three ball from the wing against the zone and OKC have 8 threes on 18 attempts.
Gobert to the line after the foul on Wallace but he misses both FTs.
Alexander-Walker breaks off the turnover and takes it to the cup in transition.
Lob up top from Williams to Hartenstein who throws down the alley oop!
Shanon in the corner off the Reid dish and he sinks the three ball! He's got 7 points in 3 minutes.
Offensive rebound off the missed FT leads to a K. Williams three ball in the corner!
Joe weaving his way to the bucket, gets the running hook shot to fall and the foul! FT is no good after the foul on DiVincenzo.
Shannon to the line after the foul on Caruso and he hits both FTs.
Holmgren almost lost it down low, but recovered and stretched to the cup for the lay up.
Shannon with a rebound on one end and he takes it to the cup for a lay up off the glass.
Randle finds Alexander-Walker and nails the three ball form the wing!
Holmgren saw a lane from the perimeter and took his space and his one handed jam!
Reid into traffic down low and he lays it up and in.
Conley's pass was picked by Williams and he gets an easy jam on the other lane.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER WITH THE THUNDER LEADING BY 7.
SGA has 13 to start the game, and so does Williams with three triples in the first quarter. McDaniels leads the Wolves with 10, but the Wolves turned it over 7 times in that first half.
Edwards streaks to the bucket and he lays it up and in and gets the foul on Hartenstein. FT is no good, but ANT is on the board for the first time.
Joe with the wing three off the Hartenstein offensive rebound!
DiVincenzo euro steps through the lane and floats it up high over the defense.
DiVincenzo sends SGA to the line where he hits both FTs. He's got 13 points already after just 14 last game.
SGA drills a long ball of his own and this game has been wide open from the start!
DiVincenzo finds Alexander-Walker in the corner and he sticks the three ball!
K. Williams pulls up in the lane and hits the short jumper.
DiVincenzo hits a three ball off the penetration and kick out from Reid.
Williams answers back with a three ball, his third triple of the night!
Reid drills a three ball from the top of the key off the kick out from Randle!
SGA spins in the lane and hits the FT line jumper after OKC keep the ball during the challenge.
Out of bounds for OKC and MIN is going to challenge the call with 4:23 to go in the first quarter.
SGA muscles his way to the bucket off the back down and puts it up and in off the glass.
Williams drives down the left hand side and hangs it high off the glass.
McDaniels going coast to coast and finger rolls it around the rim and in for 10 points on the night.
Timeout OKC with 5:38 to go in the 1st quarter.
SGA going into traffic and stretching to the rim for the lay up.
SGA on the step back and he is on the board after starting this game dishing the rock.
Conley missed the floater but Gobert was there for the rebound and put back.
Dort strings a three ball off the dish from SGA!
McDaniels was open after the Gobert offensive board, and knocked down a three ball in the corner. He's got 8 already
Willliams from the corner and he's got his second three ball of the quarter.
Edwards picked off a soft pass from SGA and hit McDaniels o the break for the slam and one! FT is good after the foul on Holmgren.
Dort to the line after the foul on McDaniels and he hits one of two FTs.
Conley, the vett, drains a three from the wing off the handoff from Gobert.
Holmgren picks up the miss from SGA and takes it to the bucket for a lay up on the second chance.
McDaniels fades away in the lane and hits his first FG attempt.
Williams gets to the elbow and sinks the mid range jumper off the dribble.
Randle opens his account with a mid range jumper from the wing.
Williams connects in the corner with a three ball to start the game.
GAME 1 IS UNDERWAY FROM MINNESOTA!!!
Wolves starting five
Coach Finch has gone with the same starting five for most if ot all of the playoff games. It's Conley, Edwards, McDaniels, Randle and Gobert. They jumped out to a big lead last game and will look to do the same thing tonight.
Thunder starters
The Thunder know what work. This starting five has got them this far so why stop now? The Game 3 blowout is in the rear view and now it's time for SGA, Dort, Williams, Chet and Hartenstein to set the tone out of the gate.
Last game recap
The Wolves knew there was no room for error in their return to Minnesota for Game 3 on Saturday night. They came out and landed a knock out blow from the very beginning, going up 34-14 on the Thunder and only added to that lead as the game went on. Anthony Edwards led the way with 30 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists in the must win game as the Wolves were up 40 in the third quarter. They it 20 of 40 threes and had 30 assists and 10 turnovers which allowed the starters to rest in the final 12 minutes and they cruised to their first victory of the series to turn the tides going into Game 4.
We are live from Minnesota
Hello everyone and welcome to the Target Center where the Wolves are looking to hold serve at home after the OKC Thunder took a 2-0 series lead in the first two games of the Western Conference Finals. Minnesota routed the Thunder on Saturday night, beating them by 42 points and they will be hoping to ride that wave of momentum into tonight’s game against a Thunder team that will be looking to rebound after one of their worst performance of the season. Game 4 can so often be a decisive game in a series and if the Thunder win it they will take a big leap towards the NBA Finals before heading back to their home court. It’s a must win game for the Wolves in front of their home fans and you know the Target Center will be rocking tonight.
Thunder vs. Timberwolves Game 4
This one is a big one. The Minnesota Timberwolves are back at home with a chance to even up the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight from the Target Center. So far neither team has lost at home but that’s what the Thunder will be trying to do tonight from Minnesota and AS English will be with you every step of the way, providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s pivotal Game 4.
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