Thunder Seek Redemption After Embarrassing Game 3 Loss
The Oklahoma City Thunder were humbled in truly dramatic fashion in Game 3, getting blown out by 42 points in front of a raucous Timberwolves crowd. After such a brutally lopsided loss, the pressure is now sky-high for the young Thunder to respond—or risk watching their 2-1 lead slip away. Game 4 isn’t just another playoff clash; it’s the kind of moment that can define a team, especially with these squads so tightly matched in the Western Conference Finals.
The main story for the Thunder heading into Game 4 is whether their stars, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, can bounce back against a suddenly stifling Minnesota defense. In Game 3, the Wolves practically closed the door whenever the Thunder tried to drive to the basket, clogging the paint and leaving no easy lanes. If the Thunder hope to swing momentum back their way, Shai and Jalen need to find answers—whether that means knocking down more perimeter jumpers, working off-ball screens, or pushing the tempo before the Minnesota defense gets set.
Another name to watch is Chet Holmgren, who gets a unique challenge: not only is he being asked to anchor the Thunder defense in his home state, but he’s also tasked with keeping Minnesota’s bigs from dominating inside. After seeing the Timberwolves rack up easy points near the rim, there’s a lot riding on Chet’s ability to contest shots, grab rebounds, and stay aggressive without picking up early fouls.
Timberwolves Eyeing Series Reset on Home Floor
On the other side, the Minnesota Timberwolves come into Game 4 brimming with confidence. After their explosive Game 3 performance, the team’s physicality and relentless defense left the Thunder scrambling for answers. Buoyed by their home crowd, the Timberwolves are desperate to tie the series before heading back to Oklahoma City.
For Minnesota, the defensive game plan centers on shutting down drives and forcing the Thunder into contested looks. Their big men have done an impressive job protecting the paint, allowing the perimeter defenders to press out on shooters. If they keep up that level of intensity, they could make life miserable for Shai and the rest of the Thunder backcourt.
The Timberwolves have another edge: health. While the Thunder are still missing Nikola Topic due to his knee injury, Minnesota has a clean injury report heading into the crucial matchup. With a full roster, coach Chris Finch can rotate fresh bodies and keep the defensive pressure high all night.
Beyond the stats and matchups, Game 4 will most likely come down to old-fashioned grit. The Thunder need to match Minnesota’s desperation and intensity, or they’ll risk letting the Timberwolves take control. Meanwhile, if Minnesota can harness the energy from their home crowd and recreate the defensive lockdown from Game 3, there’s a real shot the series will head back to Oklahoma City knotted at two games apiece.
The stakes don’t get much higher for a Game 4: a Thunder win puts them one step from the NBA Finals, while a Wolves victory sets up a best-of-three sprint to the finish. Both teams have plenty on the line—it all unfolds Monday night at Target Center, with tipoff at 7:30 PM CT on ESPN.
