Thunder Flip the Script in Game 4 Thriller
If there’s one thing the Oklahoma City Thunder have proven, it’s that one lousy night doesn’t define a series. After getting embarrassed by 42 points in Game 3, the Thunder roared back in Game 4, edging the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-126 in a heart-racing contest. This win slams the door shut on any doubts about their playoff resilience, swinging the Western Conference Finals in their favor at 3-1.
The Timberwolves came out sharp, clearly hoping to ride the momentum from their previous blowout. But Oklahoma City had other plans—and it started early with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander setting the tone. He tore through Minnesota's defense for 40 points, dishing out 10 assists and grabbing 9 boards. On top of that, Jalen Williams matched him for star power, torching the defense with 34 points, including 6 threes on just 9 attempts. Those two just wouldn’t let OKC quit, even as Minnesota kept landing blows of their own on the other end.
Both teams traded runs, and neither managed to build a lead that felt truly comfortable. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Timberwolves with 23 points and 6 assists, stepping up as Anthony Edwards’ supporting cast tried to keep pace. Minnesota found a way to hang around thanks to some clutch shooting and hustle plays late, but every narrowing of the gap seemed to be answered by another big bucket from the Thunder—often Jalen Williams from deep or Gilgeous-Alexander weaving through traffic.
Defense, Bounce-Back Mentality, and Next Steps
There’s a reason Oklahoma City leads this series, and it’s not just hot shooting. Their defensive intensity ramped up dramatically after the Game 3 debacle. You could see the urgency in the way they chased down shooters and forced Minnesota into awkward late-clock situations. The Thunder’s ability to turn stops into quick offense stopped the Timberwolves from ever finding a comfortable offensive flow, especially down the stretch.
But the biggest story might be how the Thunder’s young core simply refused to let last game’s disaster linger. Instead of hanging their heads, they came right back swinging. Gilgeous-Alexander, who looked out of sorts in Game 3, played with absolute poise and confidence. Williams’ big three-point shooting threatened to break the Timberwolves any time they surged.
On the flip side, Minnesota faces a mountain now. They’ve shown grit—pushing this one to the final seconds—but the challenge is massive. With OKC just a win away from punching a ticket to the NBA Finals, Game 5 is all-or-nothing for the Timberwolves. The Thunder, meanwhile, are smelling history and have all the momentum heading back home.
