Oklahoma City Thunder Seize 3-1 Series Lead After Wild 128-126 Win Over Timberwolves
Thunder Take Full Control in the West After Heart-Stopping Game 4
The playoff buzz hit fever pitch as the Oklahoma City Thunder clung to a nail-biting 128-126 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, tilting the Western Conference Finals their way with a 3-1 series stronghold. What made this one special? Everything was up for grabs until the final second, and both teams delivered the kind of drama that makes NBA Playoff basketball impossible to ignore.
From the jump, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander brought the crowd to its feet. He wasted no time, dropping 11 points in the opening minutes, weaving past defenders and orchestrating the Thunder offense like he was born for the big stage. SGA didn’t just get his own; his smart ball movement kept drives alive all night, stretching Minnesota’s defense with every possession.
Jaylen Williams played like a seasoned playoff veteran despite his years, racking up 15 points and making his presence felt on both sides of the ball. Any time the Thunder needed a big basket, Williams stepped up, either slashing through traffic or knocking down a jumper. Meanwhile, Naz Reed kept the Timberwolves within striking distance—his deep shooting spread the court and made the Thunder’s interior defense scramble.
Down to the Wire: Tense Defenses, Star Clashes, and a Wild Ending
If you love gritty defense, this game was for you. With each possession, the intensity ratcheted higher. Minnesota's Anthony Edwards ran into a wall most nights with Jaden McDaniels glued to his hip, making every shot a grind. At the other end, Gilgeous-Alexander drew double teams and late fouls, but calmly hit clutch free throws as the clock ticked down.
As the fourth quarter wound down, the Timberwolves looked on the brink. Every Thunder lead seemed like it might hold, but Minnesota clawed back possession after possession. Late in the game, down by just two, the Timberwolves set up for a frantic buzzer-beater, sending a half-court lob sailing towards the rim. It clanged off iron, and a collective gasp swept through the arena. The Thunder bench exploded; they'd survived.
The Oklahoma City Thunder now hold all the cards, just one win away from punching their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time in over a decade. Fans at home had their choice of ESPN coverage, but many around the world scrambled for streams, using VPNs or free YouTube trials to catch every second. With Game 5 looming, all eyes are on whether this dynamic young Thunder squad can finish off Minnesota or if the Timberwolves have one last comeback left in them.