Thunder Ready to Respond After Blowout Loss
Pressure is mounting as the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves head into Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. The injury report leaves little room for excuses—every key player for both sides, except for one, is cleared and ready to go. But the backstory makes this more than just some footnote ahead of tipoff.
All eyes are on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He'll suit up with a clean bill of health, despite openly admitting his rough outing in Game 3. Shai struggled under the Timberwolves’ relentless defense, coughing up costly turnovers and never finding his rhythm as Oklahoma City suffered their most lopsided postseason defeat ever—falling 143-101. In the postgame scrum, he didn’t hide from blame. "We played into their hands," he said, hinting at the urgency now gripping the franchise as they look to seize back momentum.
Meanwhile, Chet Holmgren’s return to playoff basketball after a fractured pelvis has gone about as smoothly as Thunder fans could hope. No longer a rookie in mindset, Chet brings shot-blocking and hustle to a team desperate for defensive answers against a red-hot Minnesota squad. The Thunder's frontcourt has lived and died by his presence, especially as they try to contain Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns in the paint. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault confirmed Chet is "100 percent, ready for the challenge."
The only significant absence for Oklahoma City continues to be Nikola Topic. The rookie, picked high in last year’s draft and seen as part of the team's future, is still recovering from knee surgery. Thunder staff insist his rehab is on track, but he won’t see action this postseason—the team is focusing on what’s right in front of them.
Timberwolves at Full Strength, Series Tied in the Balance
On the other bench, the Timberwolves are blessed with a clean injury report. Their rotation enters Game 4 intact, eager to keep the pressure on Oklahoma City. The dominant win in Game 3 wasn’t just about scoring—Minnesota’s defense set the tone, piling up steals and forcing the Thunder into awkward, low-percentage shots. With no health concerns looming, Coach Chris Finch is free to unleash his starting five and bench weapons without any restrictions.
This series needs Game 4 to settle the narrative. A Thunder win restores their lead and resets the psychological edge; a Timberwolves victory ties things at 2-2 and changes the stakes entirely. For now, both teams know health isn’t the hurdle. It’s about who responds better with everything on the line and every star available.
Don’t underestimate the weight of that 42-point loss for the Thunder—it’s the kind of defeat players remember for years. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, might wonder if they’ve found a blueprint for victory, or just caught lightning in a bottle. Tonight will show if they can bring that heat twice in a row or if Shai and the Thunder can bounce back when it matters most.
