Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 129-106 win over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.
It was the 14th win in the past 19 games for the Thunder and just the third loss in 14 games for the Timberwolves.
Oklahoma City controlled much of the contest, taking the lead for good within the first four minutes.
However, Minnesota didn’t go away until late.
The Timberwolves pulled within three late in the second quarter before Oklahoma City ripped off a quick 9-1 run fueled by back-to-back 3-pointers by Luguentz Dort.
Then in the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander took over.
He scored 14 points and added three assists as the Thunder went up by many as 15 points. Gilgeous-Alexander made all seven of his field-goal attempts in the period.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished 14 of 19 from the field and added nine assists and six rebounds. He was 14 of 16 from inside the arc.
After the Thunder stretched their lead to 19 in the first six minutes of the fourth, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch emptied his bench.
Oklahoma City tied its best field-goal percentage of the season, hitting 60.5 percent of its shots.
Three other Thunder players joined Gilgeous-Alexander with at least 20 points — Jalen Williams added 21 while Dort and Chet Holmgren had 20 apiece.
The teams entered the game as two of the best defensive squads in the league, but early on, it was the offenses that made the most noise.
The Timberwolves were sizzling from the floor from the start, shooting 65 percent (13 of 20) from the field in the first quarter as Anthony Edwards scored 10 of Minnesota’s 35 points in the frame.
The Thunder were even hotter to start, shooting 70 percent (14 of 20) from the field in the first, scoring 40 points — their most in a first quarter this season.
All but one of Oklahoma City’s field goals in the quarter were assisted, with Josh Giddey recording six assists.
Edwards led the Timberwolves on the night with 25 points while Mike Conley added 17, going 5 of 7 from 3-point range. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 16 points, and Rudy Gobert added 10.
–Field Level Media
