Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle combined for just 21 points in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Game 4 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night.
Edwards finished with 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the field, including a dismal 1-of-7 from beyond the arc. Randle was even worse, scoring only five points on 1-of-7 shooting from the field.
The underwhelming performance from Minnesota’s stars played a major role in the team’s heartbreaking 128-126 loss at home in this pivotal Game 4.
The Supporting Cast Showed Up
Most of the Timberwolves’ supporting cast stepped up, making the sting of this loss even stronger.
Donte DiVincenzo delivered his best performance of the playoffs, scoring 21 points efficiently, knocking down five three-pointers. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was outstanding on both ends of the floor, pouring in a team-high 23 points and making life difficult for his cousin, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, on defense.
Jaden McDaniels also made an impact with 22 points, while Terrence Shannon Jr. contributed nine points in just eight minutes— his second consecutive solid showing after limited minutes earlier in the postseason.
Turnovers & Offensive Rebounds
While the underwhelming performances from Edwards and Randle were a major factor in the Game 4 loss, the Timberwolves’ struggles with turnovers and defensive rebounding also played a critical role in letting the game slip away.
Minnesota committed 23 turnovers, which led directly to 25 points for the Thunder. They also gave up 19 offensive rebounds, many of which resulted in back-breaking kick-out three-pointers in key moments.
At a glance, the team stats suggest the Timberwolves should have won. They shot a higher percentage from the field, attempted and made more free throws, and led in rebounds, assists, fast break points, and points in the paint. However, the Thunder managed to attempt 11 more shots — largely due to the Wolves’ turnovers and inability to control the defensive glass — which ultimately proved to be the difference.
Thunder Stars Shine
The Thunder’s stars outshined the Timberwolves’.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came just shy of a triple-double, finishing with 40 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds. Jalen Williams was equally impressive, pouring in 34 points, while Minnesota native Chet Holmgren added 21 points, along with three blocks and a steal on the defensive end.
The combination of poor production from Edwards and Randle, along with the Timberwolves’ numerous costly turnovers and their failure to secure defensive rebounds, has put them in a 3-1 hole in the Western Conference Finals. They now head to Oklahoma City for Game 5 on Wednesday night— a true must-win in the biggest game of their season.
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