Anthony Edwards danced on Cason Wallace, then attacked the rim with his trademark burst.
Sensing a help defender looming, the Timberwolves star shifted gears, backing down Wallace in anticipation of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s rotation. But it wasn’t SGA who came over.
Jalen Williams materialized like a ghost from Edwards’ blindside — reaching in, stripping the ball and finishing at the other end. It was a moment that set the tone for the rest of the night.
The Thunder didn’t just contain Edwards. They took him out of his rhythm entirely.
“It was kind of hard to get to the paint, honestly,” Edwards said. “Regardless of that’s my game, they definitely took that aspect of my game away tonight from getting downhill. So, good job to those guys.”
Minnesota suffered its worst loss of the postseason on Tuesday, falling 114–88 to Oklahoma City in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
For a team that had steamrolled the Lakers and Warriors with brute frontcourt power and a relentless interior attack, the Thunder presented a new — and sobering — challenge.
I asked Anthony Edwards about how the Wolves plan to adjust to how OKC’s size and gap-pressure led to struggles in Game 1:
“They bank on us not making shots I guess….they just be clogging the paint. They put like five, four bodies in the paint and make you kick it out. So, just… pic.twitter.com/p3CzumBpHW
— Jordan Davis (@jdavis34_) May 21, 2025
Edwards, widely considered one of the NBA’s most dangerous rim finishers, was repeatedly denied access to his comfort zone. He finished with 18 points on just 5-of-13 shooting with only one of his attempts coming near the basket.
“(The defense) was different every time,” Edwards said.
“They’re heavy in the gaps. Sometimes trap the ball screen, sometimes don’t, sometimes just run and jump. They kind of remind me of an AAU defensive team. It’s good to get it out of our system in Game 1, so we’ll be ready for Game 2.”
Despite Edwards’ struggles, star forward Julius Randle opened the Western Conference finals with a strong individual performance.
Randle led the Timberwolves with 28 points and eight rebounds on 9-of-13 shooting in Game 1, including five made three-pointers. He scored 20 of those points in the first half, providing a much-needed offensive spark as Minnesota led by four at halftime.
But along with his offensive bursts came five turnovers, and in the second half, OKC’s defense found its grip.
A 20-2 run by the Thunder midway through the third quarter flipped the game upside down. Randle’s second-half slowdown was a familiar theme for players facing OKC stifling defense this season.
“It wasn’t like it was a shootout in the first half,” Randle said. “Whether it’s misses or makes, we still need to defend at a high level. I think that was probably the difference in the second half. We’ve got to defend at a little bit better level in that third quarter.”
For the first time in these playoffs, Minnesota’s frontcourt advantage was neutralized.
The Timberwolves have leaned heavily on its towering frontline of†h Randle, Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid so far these playoffs. That size has 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 OKC is no ordinary opponent.
The Thunder’s combination of length, agility and discipline presents a rare and complex defensive puzzle.
Their frontcourt trio of Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams showed resilience in the previous round, helping to contain three-time MVP Nikola Jokić. That same rim protection reared its head again in Game 1.
And it’s not just the bigs.
OKC’s perimeter defenders bring a relentless, swarming energy. Lu Dort’s physicality, Alex Caruso’s IQ and Williams’ instincts have frustrated some of the league’s best scorers all season. That strength in numbers is what has set this Thunder team apart from the rest of the league.
Now, the challenge is clear for Minnesota. Their physical edge alone won’t be enough against a Thunder team that’s equally long, disciplined and sharp defensively.
Game 1 wasn’t just a loss.
It was a message.
“We definitely need to find a rhythm in this series,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “Every series is a little bit different, how people guard you and whatnot. I thought we came out and tried to play the same way we always did, and that wasn’t going to work tonight. So, we’ve got to figure out a different rhythm to play.”
Jordan Davis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jordan? He can be reached at jd****@*******an.com or on X/Twitter at @jdavis34_. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Jordan’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves must adjust to stifling Thunder defense
