Basketball is a game of runs, but nobody expected a tidal wave. After the Minnesota Timberwolves basically dismantled the Oklahoma City Thunder by 42 points in Game 3, the vibes in Minneapolis were electric. People were genuinely starting to wonder if the top-seeded Thunder were actually "too young" for the bright lights. Then, May 26, 2025, happened.
The okc vs wolves game 4 wasn't just another playoff game. It was a 128-126 thriller that essentially decided who was going to represent the West in the NBA Finals. If you didn't see it live, you missed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander putting on a masterclass that cemented his status as the league's most unguardable player.
Honestly, the energy at Target Center was suffocating at the jump. Minnesota fans thought they had the momentum. But SGA? He didn't care. He dropped 40 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds. It was a "stat-padder's" dream, except every single bucket felt like a dagger to the Wolves' hopes of tying the series.
The SGA Show and Why Minnesota Couldn't Stop It
What most people get wrong about this game is thinking it was just about scoring. It was about poise. The Thunder came out swinging after that embarrassing Game 3 loss. Shai was playing like he had a point to prove. He finished with a postseason career-high 40 points, and he did it with that weird, slow-motion rhythm that drives defenders insane.
You’ve got to feel for Jaden McDaniels. He played some of the best defense of his life, and it just didn't matter. There was this one play—you’ve probably seen the clip by now—where Shai was literally falling out of bounds and somehow threaded a pass through McDaniels' legs to Jalen Williams for a corner three. That was the moment the room went quiet.
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Jalen "Dub" Williams was the unsung hero here too. He chipped in 34 points on 13-of-24 shooting. When the Wolves tried to double Shai, Dub was right there to punish them. It’s hard to beat a team when their second option is playing like a First-Team All-NBA selection.
The Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle Struggle
Now, let's talk about the Wolves because this part is painful for the locals. Anthony Edwards is usually the guy. He’s the face of the league in many ways. But in okc vs wolves game 4, he just couldn't find the bottom of the net. He finished with 16 points on a rough 5-of-13 shooting.
The Thunder’s defense was basically a wall. They forced him into five turnovers and made him look human for the first time in the 2025 playoffs.
And then there’s Julius Randle.
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The backlash was immediate. Randle finished with 5 points. Total. In 28 minutes. He shot 1-for-7 from the field. When you’re in the Western Conference Finals, you cannot have your second or third option go essentially scoreless in the second half. The fans were restless, and honestly, the "Knicks Randle" memes were out in full force by the third quarter.
Why the Bench Almost Saved Minnesota
If it weren't for the bench, this would have been a blowout. The Timberwolves’ second unit actually outscored their starters 64-62. Think about that for a second.
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker was a flame-thrower with 23 points.
- Donte DiVincenzo added 21.
- Jaden McDaniels kept them in it late with 22.
They fought back from being down 90-85 at the end of the third. They even cut it to two points in the final seconds. But at the end of the day, you can't win a game of this magnitude when your superstars are combine for 21 points while the other team's big three (SGA, Williams, Holmgren) combines for 95.
The Wild Finish Nobody Expected
The last 15 seconds were pure chaos. SGA was basically a machine at the free-throw line, hitting 5 of 6 to keep the Wolves at arm's length. With 3.5 seconds left, the Thunder were up 128-125. Anthony Edwards went to the line.
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He made the first.
He missed the second on purpose—a classic playoff move.
The ball bounced high, and for a split second, it looked like Minnesota might get the board. But Shai, because he was seemingly everywhere that night, snagged the rebound and threw a prayer of a pass out of bounds to bleed the clock. By the time Julius Randle tried to inbounds the ball with 0.3 seconds left, Jalen Williams intercepted it. Game over. Series basically over.
How to Apply These Game 4 Insights
If you’re a basketball fan or a bettor looking at future OKC vs. Minnesota matchups, there are a few things you have to take away from this specific game. Poise beats momentum. The Thunder proved that after a 42-point blowout, they could reset and execute in a hostile environment.
- Watch the spacing: The Thunder’s ability to use Chet Holmgren (who had 21) as a floor spacer pulls Rudy Gobert out of the paint, which is exactly how SGA gets those midrange looks.
- Follow the turnovers: Minnesota lost this game at the charity stripe and on the fast break. OKC forced 23 turnovers. If you aren't protecting the ball against Daigneault's defense, you're dead.
- Respect the bench but rely on the stars: Minnesota’s depth is great, but as Game 4 showed, in the playoffs, your "1A" has to outplay their "1A."
The Thunder took a 3-1 lead after this win and eventually closed it out in Game 5. It was a masterclass in resilience and a reminder that the young core in Oklahoma City isn't just "coming"—they are already here.