The Oklahoma City Thunder mounted a powerful second-half rally to sweep past the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, as Anthony Edwards dodged an ankle injury scare
Thunder Overpower Timberwolves in Second Half to Win Game 1 of Western Conference Finals
Oklahoma City – May 20, 2025 – The Oklahoma City Thunder sent a strong message in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals by dominating the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 following a second-half onslaught. The Wolves began well and actually led 48-44 at halftime, but the Thunder turned the tables in the last two quarters, posting a 70-40 domination of the Timberwolves to win.
Strong Start Turns Into Second-Half Collapse
The Timberwolves played effectively through the first half, displaying poise on both sides of the court. Anthony Edwards was aggressive early, and the Wolves were able to contain the explosive Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — for a time. Oklahoma City seemed somewhat out of sync offensively and trailed by four at halftime.
Then came the second half.
Gilgeous-Alexander, a candidate for the MVP award, caught fire after his sluggish beginning. Following a first half in which he managed only 2-for-13, he began to click, tallying 31 points and 9 assists to guide his team to a rout. His penchant for drawing fouls and making timely shots from the mid-range area created space, as OKC gained steam and never let up.
Anthony Edwards Injury Scare
There was a scare for Minnesota late in the first quarter when star guard Anthony Edwards rolled his right ankle after going through the lane and coming down awkwardly. Cameras captured him in apparent distress, momentarily clutching his ankle in pain. He headed for the locker room shortly thereafter but was back early in the second quarter to a collective sigh of relief from Timberwolves fans.
Although Edwards still played — playing a team-high 36 minutes — he could not regain his rhythm. He was good for only 18 points on 5-of-13 from the field, including 3-of-8 from outside the arc. Regardless of whether the injury hindered his performance or not, his lack of aggressiveness was obvious. During post-game, Edwards said that the ankle didn’t have any impact on his shots, but the numbers and body language indicated otherwise.
Thunder’s Physical Edge and Mental Maturity
The Thunder’s defense clamped down dramatically in the second half. Lu Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein were tough bodies even while fighting foul trouble. OKC shut down passing lanes to the Timberwolves’ offense and protected the boards. The Wolves managed just 40 points after halftime — a drastic difference from what they put up in the first half.
OKC players were also more mature and composed in a game rife with questionable calls and intense moments. As the Timberwolves appeared rattled — with Jaden McDaniels fouling out and Chris Finch feuding with referees — the Thunder remained on point. Gilgeous-Alexander, after taking a drubbing and getting into a brief scuffle with Edwards, didn’t allow emotions to get the best of him. Instead, he set the example and anchored the offense late.
Julius Randle Shut Down After Scorching First Half
Julius Randle was a standout for Minnesota during the first half, making five 3-pointers and recording a game-high 20 points at the break. Oklahoma City changed things defensively in the second half, however, shutting down Randle and holding him to just 8 points for the remainder of the game.
Without the consistent offensive production of Edwards or Randle, the Timberwolves collapsed. Their ball movement ground to a halt, and open shots vanished as OKC’s energy on both sides spiked.
Looking Ahead: Game 2
Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday night in Oklahoma City. The Timberwolves will need to regroup quickly and figure out a way to break the Thunder’s suffocating second-half defense. More importantly, they’ll be closely monitoring Anthony Edwards’ ankle to ensure he’s at full strength for the rest of the series.
In the meantime, the Thunder seek to ride the momentum and establish that their Game 1 victory was no anomaly. With Gilgeous-Alexander playing like an MVP and a collective team defense that suddenly tightened when it counted most, OKC has the upper hand leading into the next contest.