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During the exhilarating Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Western Conference Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder narrowly outlasted the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-126, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead. This victory illustrates the resilience Thunder demonstrated following their baffling 42-point defeat during Game 3, courtesy of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s (SGA) astonishing performance of 40 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists– just one assist shy of a triple-double. SGA's performance puts Oklahoma City just one win away from the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearances since 2012.
Game Overview
First Quarter: Thunder Set the Tone
Following a putrid performance in Game 3, the Thunder displayed newfound vigor. Stealing the lead in the 1st quarter, the Timberwolves were able to excel sharply in both their scoring offense and defense, which greatly stunted the scoring pool of the Timberwolves relievers, prepping both teams for an engaging match.
Second Quarter: Timberwolves Fight Back
The second quarter brought some change, with bench players doing their part to close the gap. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Donte DiVincenzo kept the Timberwolves within striking distance by scoring over a whopping 40 points off the bench as a duo.
Third Quarter: Thunder Keeps Their Drive
Oklahoma City Thunder also did not lose control of the game as they kept scoring with Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren performing excellently. Williams scored a whopping 34 points with 6 of them being 3 pointers and Holmgren scored an additional 21 points with 3 blocks.
Fourth Quarter: Edge of Your Seat Ending
In the 4th quarter, the Timberwolves made an audacious effort at a comeback and ended up leveling the score during the last minutes. But, Gilgeous-Alexander’s free throws in the dying seconds of the game allowed Thunder to take the win.
Key Performances
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Showed Steam of An MVP
His contribution proved pivotal for Thunder winning the match and his 40 points compensated for it while getting 10 rebounds and giving out 9 assists boosting his leadership capabilities. Moreover, he is now the first player in franchise history to score five 30 point games in a row during playoffs. Jalen Williams: Star in The Making
Williams’s 34 point haul and 6 three-pointers underline his growing the Thunder had hoped. His floor spacing abilities were vital while he did help the team stay in the lead.
Chet Holmgren: Defensive Anchor
While playing in his hometown Minneapolis, Holmgren notched 21 points alongside 3 blocks. His defensive game single-handedly thwarted the offensive rhythm of the Timberwolves as he provided key stops in the dying moments of the game.
Timberwolbes' Bench: A Silver Lining
Even with the loss, Minnesota's bench players played tremendously well. Impressive display of depth was showcased with Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Donte DiVincenzo both scoring more than 20 points.
Strategic Evaluation
Thunder’s Offensive Efficiency
Okc’s offence seemed to be multi dimentional with good shooting, especially from long-range. This game they rebounded strongly from last game’s 3pt shooting with 16 out of 37 attempts, which also helps ball movement and open shots.
Defensive Modifications
Thunder made crucial defensive changes for containing the stars of Minnesota. Anthony Edwards was restrained to scoring 16 points while Julius Randle was limited to 5. Such strategies helped the timberwolves to fall to pieces offensively and severely restrict their scoring avenues.
Clutch Free Throws
SHSG’s calmness at the free throw line towards the end of the game was vital. Freezing in the face of drawing fouls and capitalizing on the free throws starkly shows dominance, but moreover poise under pressure encapsulates the role of a leader.
Consequences for the Series Thunder's Momentum As the saying goes: ‘Turnovers is the kryptonite on winning’. If turnovers was a problem, then the Thunder’s 3-1 series lead going into Game 5 at home would come as no surprise. They have a strong postseason home record and look likely to advance to the NBA Finals after clinching the Series.
Timberwolves' Efforts And Challenges Bench Contributions The Timberwolves fared better than expected with their bench players as Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Donte DiVincenzo each had 20 points or more, which is an achievement in and of itself. With the shooting display they put on from range, Minnesota was able to remain competitive and showcase the talent hidden on their roster.
Star Players Struggles However, the rest of the team was not performing as up to par, as their star players – Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle – struggled. Edwards managed to struggle his way to 16 points and Randle only managed 5 points, which was rather pathetic by any stretch of the imagination. It would be fair to say the efforts from the Thunder, and in particular Luguentz Dort, to shut them down bore fruit and certainly did not help Minnesota’s chances.
Conclusion
The Oklahoma City Thunder clinched a close 128-126 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, extending their series lead to 3-1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gave yet another masterclass with 40 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds, coming just short of a triple-double.
Jalen Williams scored a career-high 34 points in the playoffs while also receiving 21 points from Chet Holmgren which further displayed the team’s resilience. While the Timberwolves tried to onboard some bench scoring, their starters failures combined with the Thunder’s ability to capitalize on turnovers and grab offensive rebounds made the difference. With this win, Oklahoma City is now just one win away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 2012.