Thunder vs Timberwolves score: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC dominate Game 1 of West finals

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and forward Jalen Williams (8) celebrate during Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sat on the court and pumped his fist just as the basketball somehow fell through the rim and net. 

Another playoff victory.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 31 points, converted the wild three-point play that started with a falling toss of the basketball toward the basket that improbably rolled in to put an exclamation point on the Thunder’s Game 1 victory in the Western Conference finals.

And this came after OKC big man Chet Holmgren took over.

He blocked Naz Reid to open the quarter. Holmgren followed with a corner 3. He then blocked Donte DiVincenzo’s shot. Holmgren followed with two emphatic dunks and a putback.

Holmgren had six points and no blocks entering the quarter. He finished with 15 points and two blocks.

It was that stretch to open the fourth with SGA on the bench that made a difference.

And it allowed the Thunder to put away the Timberwolves.

Thunder vs Timberwolves live score updates in Game 1 of NBA Playoffs

End of third quarter: Thunder 76, Timberwolves 66 | OKC takes control 

Jalen Williams sliced through the lane and finished a layup that sent Paycom Center into a frenzy. 

Williams’ layup with 4:19 left in the third quarter capped a 10-0 Thunder run, during which Chris Finch called two timeouts to try and stop the bleeding. 

Kenrich Williams refused to cooperate. The Thunder veteran went on his own 5-0 run later in the third quarter, expanding the Thunder’s lead to double-digits. 

OKC outscored Minnesota 32-18 in the third. 

—Joe Mussatto, Columnist

End of first half: Timberwolves 48, Thunder 44 | Anthony Edwards returns, Julius Randle cooks

Minnesota superstar Anthony Edwards went to the locker room before the start of the second quarter after twisting his right ankle late in the first.

By the time Edwards returned to the bench during a timeout with 7:01 left in the second, then returned to the floor when action resumed, the Timberwolves had actually expanded on their lead. Not by much. But their three-point lead at the end of the first had grown to four.

The Wolves pushed it as high as nine points, but most of the quarter was a two-possession game.

Julius Randle continues to have a hot hand for Minnesota. He leads all scorers at halftime with 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting. He’s 5 of 6 from behind the arc, already setting his playoff single-game career high for 3-pointers.

Edwards has 13 points.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder with 11 points while Isaiah Hartenstein has 10.

—Jenni Carlson, Columnist

7:01 left in second quarter: Timberwolves 33, Thunder 29 | Anthony Edwards returns after rolling ankle

Timberwolves star guard Anthony Edwards went to the locker room following the end of the first quarter of Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the Thunder with an apparent ankle injury.

Edwards appeared to roll his ankle in the final 20 seconds of the quarter after drawing a foul on Thunder guard Alex Caruso, who attempted to take a charge.

Edwards is averaging 26.5 points, eight rebounds and 5.9 assists through 10 games this postseason.

Edwards returned to the game with 7:01 left in the first half.

—Jordan Davis, Staff writer

End of first quarter: Timberwolves 23, Thunder 20 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, free throws kept OKC afloat

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's first shot attempt might end up being the cleanest one he'll get all night.

The superstar guard went around a screen and stepped into an open 3-pointer on the left wing. But he overshot the rim, and the ball hit the right side of the backboard.

That didn't deter Gilgeous-Alexander, though, as he instead tried his luck from close range. He attacked the rim relentlessly and was rewarded by the officials.

Gilgeous-Alexander went 5 for 7 from the free-throw line in the first quarter to finish with nine points. OKC attempted 11 free throws as a team, while Minnesota only attempted three.

That helped the Thunder stay within striking distance despite shooting 35.3% from the field (20% from deep).

—Justin Martinez, Staff writer

8:07 left in 1Q: Timberwolves 10, Thunder 3 | Anthony Edwards picks up early technical foul

So many layers to a game less than five minutes old, but SGA is getting to the line. Like, at the rate people *think* he does. One is a tech FT (courtesy of Anthony Edwards), but he’s 5 for 7 there so far.

Ben Rector performs national anthem before Thunder-Timberwolves Game 1

Tulsa native Ben Rector — known for hits including "Living My Best Life" — sang the national anthem before Game 1.

Thunder vs Timberwolves starting lineups in Game 1

OKC goes with the double-big lineup again with Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein joining Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort and Jalen Williams.

The Timberwolves will go with Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker facing cousin Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Thunder-Timberwolves series

Cousins Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have faced each other 15 times now in the NBA — including once in a play-in game — but never in a playoff series.

Timberwolves, Chris Finch looking forward to frontcourt matchup with Thunder

Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch knows his team is in for a unique challenge for the first time this postseason.

After overwhelming both the Lakers and Warriors with imposing frontcourt depth, Minnesota now faces a Thunder squad that’s equipped to match their size and physicality.

The Timberwolves have leaned heavily on their towering frontline of Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid so far these playoffs. That size paid dividends, particularly in their series-clinching Game 5 win over Golden State, where they outscored the Warriors 72–50 in points in the paint.

But the Thunder aren’t likely to be overrun.

OKC’s frontcourt trio of Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams held their own against three-time MVP Nikola Jokić in the Western Conference Semifinals. 

The feat that didn’t go unnoticed by Finch.

“There’s going to be more size out there around the rim, on the glass and other things we have to really pay attention to,” Finch said. 

“I'm sure these guys will at points in the game try to go small, but generally there will be a lot more traditional size out there. We have to do a really good job of protecting the paint and getting them away from the rim.”

—Jordan Davis, Staff writer

Mark Daigneault says Thunder-Timberwolves Game 1 is 'about establishing a baseline in the series'

The Thunder doesn’t have a great idea of this surging version of the Timberwolves. To call Oklahoma City blind isn't accurate, but beer-goggled might be. 

They played a quirky four-game regular season series, with a slew of injuries defining those games. Three of them occurred in a two-week span. OKC never saw this version of Julius Randle. 

Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals is about data. 

“Tonight's more about establishing a baseline in the series, and understanding where we're starting, you know, and then going from there,” coach Mark Daigneault said.

“Trying to anticipate them too much is kind of a waste of time, to be honest. We got to just go out there and play tonight.”

—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch credits Thunder identity

Finch, asked if he knew OKC could be so young and competent: “You could see this thing coming a couple years ago. … They’ve had an identity for a few years, they just keep growing into it. They have a pecking order. They have a lot of things in place that most teams don’t.”

—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer

How do Thunder fans feel about Western Conference finals against Timberwolves?

Our Justin Martinez caught up with a few Thunder fans outside Paycom Center before Game 1 of the Thunder-Timberwolves series.

What time is Thunder vs Timberwolves NBA game tonight?

• Date: Tuesday, May 20
• Time: 7:30 p.m. CT
• Where: Paycom Center in OKC

The Thunder vs Timberwolves game starts at 7:30 p.m. CT Tuesday from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

Where to watch Thunder vs Timberwolves tonight in NBA Playoffs?

• TV: ESPN
• How to watch online: Fubo (free trial)
• Radio: WWLS 98.1 FM

Western Conference finals: Thunder vs. Timberwolves

• Game 1: Minnesota at OKC | 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN)
• Game 2: Minnesota at OKC | 7:30 p.m. Thursday (ESPN)
• Game 3: OKC at Minnesota | 7:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC)
• Game 4: OKC at Minnesota | 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 26 (ESPN)
• Game 5 (If necessary): Minnesota at OKC | 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 28 (ESPN)
• Game 6 (If necessary): OKC at Minnesota | 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 30 (ESPN)
• Game 7 (If necessary): Minnesota at OKC | 7 p.m. Sunday, June 1 (ESPN)

Thunder vs. Nuggets betting odds

Odds: Thunder by 9.5

Over/under: 225.5

Moneyline: OKC -450 | Denver +340

Thunder vs. Timberwolves prediction, picks

Justin Martinez: OKC 108, Minnesota 103

Minnesota used its size to its advantage in the previous two rounds against the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. But now it'll face OKC, which has a 7-foot duo of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. The Thunder also has plenty of defenders who can make life difficult for Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle. And offensively, OKC is entering the game with momentum after a blowout Game 7 win over Denver. I'm picking the Thunder to keep rolling at home.

OKC Thunder roster for 2024-25 NBA season

Thunder vs. Timberwolves highlights in Game 1 of Western Conference finals

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