Timberwolves 94 vs 128 Thunder Game 5 summary, stats, scores and highlights | NBA Playoffs
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The starters basically sat out the entire 4th quarter as the lead stayed around 30 into the final 12 minutes. The OKC Thunder closed out the Wolves, and punched their ticket back to the NBA FInals for the first time since 2012. They will sit back and await a winner of the Pacers Knicks series, and will enjoy some rest before the Finals start on Thursday night from Paycom Center.
The Thunder went up by 30 and kept that lead for most of the rest of the night. SGA and the Thunder defense smothered the Wolves for all four quarters. Five guys were in double digits for the Thunder.
SGA had 40 points and was a rebound away from a triple double. On Wednesday he had 34 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists and barely played in the fourth quarter. He was named the MVP of the WCF, which comes as absolutely no surprise.
The Thunder created 14 turnovers in the first half, and the Wolves made just 13 field goals heading into the halftime break. Everything you need to avoid in an elimination game, the Wolves did on Wednesday night.
The Wolves hit just 3 field goals in the first half and were losing 26-9 after 12 minutes. That would allow OKC to stretch a lead that they would hang on to for the rest of the night.
The Wolves never looked like they had the sense of urgency a team with their backs against the wall should have. That could be because they had already written the series off, but it's more likely that the Thunder defense was too suffocating for them to find any good looks especially early on.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are heading back to the NBA Finals for the first time in over a decade! Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was terrific again, going for 34 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists in the blow out win in Game 5.
The Wolves hit the first bucket of the game, but trailed from this moment on. Chet Holmgren had another tremendous game, and got his night started early on after this dish from SGA.
Dillingham lays it up and in for what should be the last bucket of the Wolves' season.
Dillingham with the tsep back from inside the lane.
Mitchell with the lay up over Garza after the steal by Williams.
Shannon to the line after the foul on Williams and he hits both FTs.
Clark into the lane and he gets the roll off the floater.
Joe puts his head down, gets to the cup and lays it up and in.
Garza with another offensive board and put back down low.
Joe with another three ball, this one from the corner and it's a 39 point lead!!!
Garza follows up the miss from Shannon and tips it up and in.
Dieng with a three ball on the step back from the wing!
Dillingham sinks a long ball off the step back.
Joe drops a three ball off the handoff from the wing!
Shannon to the line after the foul on Williams and he hits both FTs.
Holmgren in the corner and he hits the deep two off the kick out from Williams.
Shannon pulls up and this the runner in the lane.
Dort stings the three ball from the wing, he's got all 12 of his points from downtown!!
Timeout Wolves with 6:34 to go in the 4th quarter.
Williams slashing down the left side of the lane and lays it up and in.
Reid with a three ball in the corner off the feed from Randle.
Dort strings another three and this might be the last we see of the starters from each team.
Timeout Wolves with under 9:00 to go.
SGA hits a deep two from the wing after the SGA dish.
Reid into the paint and he lays it up and in.
SGA into the paint and he hits the floater and gets the foul. FT is good after the foul on Edwards.
Conley got blocked but Randle was there with the put back.
Wallace got blocked but Holmgren followed it up and got he put back.
Reid drives to the bucket and scoops it up over Holmgren.
Randle to the line after the foul on Caruso and he hits one of two FTs.
SGA nails the three ball from the top of the key and he's got 31 on the night!
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE THIRD QUARTER WITH THE THUNDER UP 26!!!
Dort with another three ball, his second of the quarter. This one came in from the wing.
Edwards on the step back from the FT line and he hits it.
DiVinecenzo sinks a three ball in the corner off the dish from Alexander-Walker.
SGA with the offbalanced floater in the lane.
Timeout Wolves with 2:57 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Caruso kicks it out to Dort who strings the three ball from the corner!
Randle gets the floater to fall in the lane and the foul on Caruso. He hits the FT to complete the three point play.
SGA picks off his cousin Alexander-Walker and takes it to the cup on the steal and score.
Randle hits a three ball from the wing, and it's a 24 point game. There is a lot of work to do, but it's not impossible.
Edwards to the line after the foul on SGA and he hits one of two FTs.
Holmgren to the line after the foul on Randle and he hits one of two FTs.
Randle drills the three ball, that's his first since the opening bucket of the game.
SGA steps back and hits the pull up jumper from the FT line.
Edwards wiggles his way to the bucket and gets the lay up in traffic.
Williams gets to the rack out of the timeout and lays it up and in out of the break.
Edwards pulls up on the break and hits the three ball from the top of the key.
Timeout Thunder with 7:36 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Edwards finds Gobert slashing to the rack and he throws it down.
Randle to the line after the foul on Williams and he its both FTs.
Hartenstein with his patented push shot from the lane.
Edwards pulls up in the lane and hits the mid range jumper.
Hartenstein follows up the rebound from Dort and he tips it up and i.
McDaniels into the lane and he hits the fader from the FT line.
SGA drives and lays it up in traffic down the lane.
Hartenstein starts the half off with a lay up down low off the pick and roll from SGA.
WE ARE BACK IN OKC FOR THE SECOND HALF OF GAME 5.
After a 40 point performance in which he was a rebound shy of a triple double, SGA is back to his best in the close out game. He has 20, 4 and 5 assists to lead the Thunder into the break with a massive lead.
MIN cant' score on the offensive end and they can't stop OKC on the other end. This could get even uglier in the second half if the Wolves can't come out and show some pride in the final 24 minutes.
The Thunder Big Three has showed up and showed out tonight from OKC. SGA was always going to get his. Williams has 15 and Holmgren has 15 at the halftime break
The Wolves went 3/20 from the field in the first quarter, and let the lead build for the home side. OKC led 26-9 at the end of the first quarter and only added to that lead in the second.
Minnesota has turned the ball over 14 times. They have just 12 FGs all night. This game might be over with 24 minutes remaining. Minnesota has not come out like a desperate team looking to keep their season alive.
The Timberwolves scored the first bucket of the game, but ever since that Randle three it has been all Thunder. They took the lead with his transition slam and have stretched the lead to over 30 in the first half.
WE ARE AT THE HALFTIME BREAK AND THE THUNDER LEAD 65-32!!!
SGA down the lane and he double clutches on the lay up to end the first half!
Williams to the line after the foul on Reid and he hits both FTs.
Reid takes it at Hartenstein and lays it up and in.
Williams pulls up from the top of the key and hits a deep three two.
DiVincenzo drills a three ball off the handoff from the wing!
Williams fouled by DiVincenzo and he hits both FTs.
SGA to the line after the break and he hits both FTs. It's a 30 point lead in the close out game from OKC.
SGA to the line after picking off DiVincenzo's pass and he's going to the line after the Timeout with under 3:00 to go in the first half.
Caruso to the line after the foul on Shannon and he hits both FTs.
SGA pulls up from the elbow and he hits the mid range jumper.
Edwards with the kick out and he hits McDaniels who hits an in rythym three ball!
SGA puts his head down and lays it up and in. He's got 14 and 9 assists already.
Edwards driving and he flips it up and in from the paint.
Conley sends Holmgren to the line where he hits one of two FTs.
Shannon breaks up the run with a reverse lay up on the baseline.
Conley is stripped by SGA and Wallace takes the turnover to the cup for a transition lay up.
Holmgren to the line after the foul on McDaniels and he hits both FTs.
Randle with the steal and he takes it for the wide open jam.
Williams sinks the three ball and the lead is back up to 26!
Randle with an open three ball from the corner and that rattled around before dropping.
Homgren drills a three from the wing and the lead it up to 26!!!
Edwards to the line after the foul on Wiggins and he hits on of two FTs.
Williams slashing down he lane and he goes up and under and off the glass.
Williiams to the line after the break and he misses the FT.
Williams with the steal off the bad pass from Reid and he takes it to the iron for the lay up and the foul!
Timeout Minnesota with 9:04 to go in the 2nd quarter.
OKC running the break and Holmgren pumps and slams from down low.
Caruso to the line after the foul on Shannon, and he hits both FTs.
Shannon off the bench and he hits the three ball from the corner to provide a little spark in the second quarter.
Caruso to the line after the foul on Reid and he hits both FTs.
Reid drives and lays it up in traffic.
Caruso goes right to the rack after the quarter change and lays it up and in.
THE FIRST QUARTER IS ALL OVER AND THE THUNDER LEAD BY 17!!!
The Wolves went 3/20 in the first quarter, while SGA as 12 and 5 assists.
Wallace beats the buzzer with a three ball from the corner and the lead it up to 17!!!
Edwards to the line after the foul on Caruso and he hits both FTs.
Coach Finch got a Technical foul after the timeout and SGA hits the FT after the break.
Timeout Thunder with 2:38 to go in the 1st quarter
SGA walks into a three ball on the wing and drills it! He's got 11 on the night!
SGA into the paint this time and he hits the off balance runner in the lane. He's got 8 points and 4 assists already.
SGA slices down the lane and hangs it high off the window.
Williams hits the floater over Reid in the lane.
Edwards eurosteps his way to the lane and lays it up and in off the glass.
Caruso with a steal and he leaves it off to SGA for the two handed slam on the break!
Edwards on the board with a drive past Caruso and lay up at the rack.
Holmgren with a huge start, this time he slams it home off the feed from SGA.
Timeout Wolves with 7:10 left in the 1st quarter. MIN is 1/11 from the field go start this game.
SGA drives past his cousin and lays it up and in off the window. 9-0 run for OKC.
SGA lobs it up and Hartenstein was there for the lay in.
SGA with the rebound and cross court pass on the break to Holmgren for the slam after a couple long strides to the cup.
Holmgren starts the Thunder's night of with a three ball from the corner of the find from SGA!
Randle strings a three to start this game! He had just 5 points last game.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM OKC!!!
MVP on the prowl
The MVP can smell blood in the waters, and he is looking to close out this series with another memorable performance tonight. SGA can lead this team, this city, and this fan base back to the NBA Finals tonight from Paycom Center.
Wolves starters
This unit needs a big night now more than ever. They haven't put a complete game together all season, but it's not too late. They need Conley, Edwards, McDaniels, Randle and Gobert in this elimination game tonight.
Thunder starting five
If it ain't broke don't fix it, and the Thunder have been rolling through the playoffs and tonight they can secure their return to the NBA Finals. It's going to be SGA, Dort, Williams, Holmgren and Hartenstein to begin Game 5 from Paycom Center.
Thunder staying healthy
The Thunder’s injury report is the same as it’s been all postseason long. Only one name is on it, and that’s Nikola Topic who has been out for months. This team is healthy, rolling and ready to book their long awaited return to the NBA Finals while staying healthy into the next round. The quicker they can punch their ticket, the better chance they have of staying healthy the rest of the way.
Minnesota’s clean injury list
The Wolves have a clean injury list and that’s a good thing because they are going to need all hands on deck. Last game they got great production from the other guys, but their stars disappeared. Tonight they are going to need their stars to lead the way but they are going to need everyone to pitch in tonight.
3-1 comebacks: an impossible task?
We all know the story. Teams who find themselves in a 3-1 hole very, very rarely get out of the series alive. The last time it happened was back in the bubble when the Denver Nuggets made it happen in the first two round of the playoffs. Teams leading 3-1 have a 95% success rate of finishing off the series. Only 13 teams have ever made the comeback in 296 series. That’s what the Wolves are up against tonight as they play a team that only lost six games at home all season. If they can survive tonight, they head back home to try and stretch the series out again from the Target Center.
OKC’s last trip to Finals
The Thunder may not have an NBA Title, but they have been to the NBA Finals. First came when the franchise was still in Seattle back in 1996. The other trip came back in the 2012 postseason when the Thunder beat the Mavs, Lakers and Spurs before meeting LeBron, D-Wade and Chris Bosh in the Finals. The Thunder, with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden won the first game of the series but lost four straight games and fell short of their first Larry O’Brien Trophy. They are in the driver seat in the Western Conference Finals, and can close it out here tonight,.
Right at Holm-gren
Sometimes the key to a title run isn’t the stars you have, it’s about the role players that make the plays that change the game. One of the biggest secondary guys the Thunder have is Chet Holmgren. He is a match up nightmare that has kept this Wolves team unbalanced. Whether he is ripping down rebounds, lobbing up alley oops to Isaiah Hartenstein or hitting threes and driving to the bucket, he constantly has an impact when he’s on the floor. Last year Kristaps Porzingis played this role for the Boston Celtics and helped them to their 18th title in franchise history. The Thunder will be hoping Chet can do this for the Thunder who are looking for their first NBA title ever.
Thunder’s home cooking
The Thunder are back home under their own roof which has been a fortress for them this season. The OKC fans have been treated to a fantastic home slate since October, and the Thunder have a chance to close out the series tonight on their home court. They only lost six games at home during the regular season and during the playoffs they are 7-1, having only lost Game 1 of last round to the Denver Nuggets on a late three point shot from Aaron Gordon. The Wolves are going to have their work cut out for them if they are going to stretch this series out. If not the Thunder are on to the NBA Finals, where they will have home court advantage as well.
ANT “didn’t struggle” in Game 4
Anthony Edwards has come under some scrutiny not just for his performance in Game 4, but for his comments after the game. When asked about his struggles in what was potentially the finally home game of the season for the Wolves, he answered “I didn’t get enough shots to say I struggled. I didn’t struggle at all.” Edwards only took 13 shots, had 16 points and turned the ball over five times. He is the primary ball handler and can create his shots when he wants. Tonight he has to be more aggressive, and has to see some three pointers fall. If not it could be a long offseason for the guy everyone is calling the next face of this league.
Rolling Thunder
I doubt there is anyone who believes that Shai shouldn’t be the MVP after beating Nikola Jokic in a head to head battle last round. If there were any doubters remaining, the MVP delivered a performance on the road that only fuels his case as the best player in the league this season. The dropped 40 point near triple double on the road against a desperate Wolves team that has yet to unlock how to keep SGA contained. Back at home, with a chance to close out the series, you know he is going to be locked in from the start. Be expecting another MVP worthy performance from the top scorer in the league.
Wolves in need of a superhero
If the Timberwolves get knocked out tonight, then their star, Anthony Edwards is going to have a lot of questions to answer heading into the offseason. He was held to just 16 points in the biggest home game of the year and has been a shade of the player he was last postseason when he led the Wolves to the Conference Finals. He has been terrible from downtown hitting 5/24 threes in the three losses this series. He is the best player the Wolves have, and they need him to be at his best for the rest of the series, however long it should last.
Game 4 recap
After taking one of the worst playoff beatings in franchise history, the Thunder rebounded with massive Game 4 win on the road. The Wolves were within striking distance for the entire night despite Anthony Edwards scoring just 16 points and Julius Randle being held to a postseason low 5. OKC took a double digit lead late in the first quarter, but the lead never stretched to more than 11 points. The Wolves would battle back, and even tied the game up from time to time thanks to Nick Alexander-Walker’s 23 and Jaden McDaniels’ 22 points, but there was just too much Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. SGA had 40, and was a rebound away from a triple double while Williams had 34 and went 6/9 from downtown as the Thunder held off a late charge from Minnesota to take a 3-1 lead back home.
Welcome to the Paycom Center
Hello everyone and welcome to Oklahoma City where the home fans can smell the NBA Finals beckoning knowing they need to win just one of the next three games. They have their first chance tonight as the Thunder return home after winning last game in Minnesota. The Thunder came out and had a professional performance against a Wolves team that knew they needed to win to keep from digging themselves into a hole that few teams have ever climbed out of. Tonight Minnesota fight for survival, and a chance to send the series back to the Target Center. It’s do or die for the visitors. While the home team could be in the Finals by the end of the night.
Timberwolves vs. Thunder Game 5
The Oklahoma City Thunder return home tonight with a chance to close out the series and book their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time in over a decade. The Minnesota Timberwolves are in a nearly insurmountable hole, but just looking to stretch the series for another game tonight in Game 5. AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s elimination game from the Paycom Center.