Oklahoma City takes command in an AWESOME Western Conference Finals

 The Oklahoma City Thunder passed another test last night in Minnesota. One of the preseason favorites to win the NBA Finals is proving in real time that they are as good as the hype.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander almost had a 40-point triple-double finishing with 10 assists and nine rebounds. But the current NBA MVP was not the story for the OKC in their 128-126 win in Minnesota.

That would be Jalen Williams. The Thunder guard finished with 34 points, with five assists, three steals, and three rebounds. But it’s more than that. It seemed like when the Thunder needed a bucket down the stretch, it was Williams who answered the call. As the number one overall seed in this year’s postseason, you would expect the highest seed to pass these tests. What we have forgotten in these playoffs, because OKC has made us forget, is just how young this team is. The core group up until now hasn’t had that much playoff success to lean on. Six of their playoff rotational pieces have played five seasons or less. It hasn’t mattered the last two rounds.

The Thunder have battled to get to this point and had to really battle in Game 4 to secure a commanding three games to one lead. As good as they are offensively with Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, and Chet Holmgren—it is the defensive end of the floor where this team truly shines. It is absolutely overwhelming and comes in waves. In Game 4 the Thunder forced 20 turnovers. Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso, Lu Dort, and Cason Wallace are all contenders for Defensive Player of the Year and swarm opponents relentlessly for 48 minutes.  And if you get past one of those four somehow, Holmgren is waiting to swat the basketball back where it came from or make the best contest a rim protector could possibly make. But Minnesota is up for the challenge.

Even with the Timberwolves star, Anthony Edwards, not having the best game, Minnesota still had a chance at the end of the game because of their deep bench. Minnesota had 64 points from their bench. Edwards only 16 points on 13 shots. Julius Randle struggled for the second time in this series. Randle only had five points missing every three-pointer he attempted and only made one field goal in 28 minutes.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the way for the Timberwolves bench with 23 points, Donte DiVincenzo had his best shooting night in the playoffs with five three-pointers and 21 points. It is clear as this series shifts back to Oklahoma City that Minnesota is not afraid from the challenge that is in front of them. The Minnesota Timberwolves is a good basketball team. They have one of the best the best young stars in the league and yet it still might not be enough for a second straight year to get to the NBA Finals. And that is okay.

If you are a fan of the T’Wolves or in the front office of this team now is not the time to overreact to a series that could look like from the box scores could be lopsided. It is not. Minnesota is right there with Oklahoma City. And this series will go back to Minnesota because I’m channeling my inner Michael Wilbon and say that Minnesota will beat Oklahoma City on their home floor to extend this series.