MINNEAPOLIS — As excruciating as essentially the most lopsided playoff loss in franchise historical past was for the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, it was fairly simple to elucidate.
After profitable the primary two video games of the Western Convention finals, the Thunder have been bodily dominated in Saturday’s 143-101 Sport 3 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“It isn’t difficult,” energy ahead/middle Chet Holmgren. “Wherever they needed to go, they obtained there. They did what they needed to do. We did not cease them.”
Oklahoma Metropolis had a equally poor begin after taking a 2-0 lead over the Memphis Grizzlies within the first spherical, however the Thunder rallied from a 29-point deficit to win that Sport 3 en path to a collection sweep. Oklahoma Metropolis by no means mounted a severe comeback bid after falling right into a 20-point gap within the first quarter towards Minnesota.
“They stored their foot on the fuel tonight, and we have been simply by no means in a position to give ourselves any traction in sport,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned. “I assumed their defensive strain and physicality positively stood out early. They have been positively throwing the primary punch within the sport.”
Newly topped MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the remainder of Oklahoma Metropolis’s starters exited the sport for good with minutes remaining within the third quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander completed with solely 14 factors. That matched rookie reserve guard Ajay Mitchell for the group excessive, but it surely was Gilgeous-Alexander’s lowest whole this season, common season or playoffs.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who averaged 34.5 factors within the first two video games of the collection, completed 4-of-13 from the ground with 4 turnovers. He tried solely 4 free throws after taking a complete of 29 within the Thunder’s two house wins over the Timberwolves.
“We simply have been extra aggressive in all places,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch mentioned. “We have been a bit cleaner round him. Did not foul. Our competitiveness was at an all-time excessive. He is an outstanding participant. He is not going to have too many nights like this. So we really feel lucky for that, and we’ll transfer on to Monday.”
Oklahoma Metropolis’s 5 starters mixed to attain solely 49 factors on 15-of-39 taking pictures, getting outscored by Timberwolves stars Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle, who mixed for 54 factors on 21-of-32 taking pictures.
“We have been taking the ball out of the web for almost all of the sport, so that they get again and may set their protection,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “And I do not care who you have been within the NBA — towards a great protection, it is laborious to attain in the event that they’re set. Previously two video games, it hasn’t been that. We have been in a position to get stops and run and play. While you take the ball out of the web each time down, it is powerful regardless.”
It was an uncharacteristically terrible efficiency for the Thunder’s top-ranked protection, which allowed the Timberwolves to shoot 57.3% from the ground and 50.0% from 3-point vary. Oklahoma Metropolis compelled solely 10 turnovers, its fewest this postseason.
“You get punched, you get again up,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “It is about responding, and that is what the following problem is. We obtained punched within the mouth tonight. Subsequent sport, we’re both going to get again up or not [and] we will lose the sport. We have got a choice to make.”
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.
