The Oklahoma City Thunder faced a rare test of fortitude after recommitting to throwing “fastball” on defense in Game 3, but ultimately came up short. The Minnesota Timberwolves dominated the game with a back-to-basics approach, fueled by the crowd at Target Center and a disciplined effort to keep their fouls to a minimum.
After two decisive wins to start the series, the Thunder’s offense found soft spots in the defense that they consistently hit over. However, the Wolves tightened up their pressure with zone defenses, effectively employing switches and hounding the ball to keep the Thunder from finding a mid-range rhythm.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA MVP, struggled with four turnovers and only four free throw attempts, while Chet Holmgren matched his low for the postseason with three shots. The team’s margin of defeat was the largest in NBA history for a team with 65-plus regular-season wins, and coach Mark Daigneault acknowledged that they need to address the issues that led to the loss.
Despite the setback, the Thunder remain confident, citing their ability to respond to adversity. “It happens,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “You’re never going to be perfect in life, in a long season. You get punched, it’s about getting back up and responding.” Coach Mark Daigneault added that his team has the experience of dealing with setbacks in the playoffs before.
The big question for Game 4 is how quickly the Thunder can bounce back from such a drubbing. With their backs against the wall, the Thunder must look to learn from their mistakes and regroup to stay in the series.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/nba-playoffs-thunder-timberwolves-dff04b596084d8b55fa60739d0998b8f