Shai Gilgeous-Alexander racked a league leading 10th game with 25 points or more in a playoff game as the Oklahoma City Thunder cruised to a 26-point thrashing of Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday night.
Jalen Williams chipped in with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Chet Holmgren added 15 points and seven boards as OKC claimed a 114-88 win, with SGA posting 31 points and a game-high nine assists for a fourth straight playoff game with 30 points or more and eighth time he’s scored 30 or more in the last 12 playoff games.
The OKC star finished the night with 10 of 27 from the floor and 11 of 14 from the free-throw line, though he also went 0 for 4 from the three-point range. In contrast, Julius Randle scored 20 points in the first half for Timberwolves before managing just eight in the second half as Timberwolves were heavily restricted.
SGA’s shooting was initially ruffled as Timberwolves limited him to 2 of 13 from the floor after the first half, before he decisively rallied to go 8 of 14 in the second half – scoring 12 points in the third quarter alone as OKC outscored Timberwolves 32-18 heading into the fourth.