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Philippines, 01 Jul 2025 |
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Oklahoma Nips Minnesota, 128-126 for 3-1 Series Lead; T-Wolves Lose Despite Better Stats By Teodoro Medina Reynoso PhilBoxing.com Tue, 27 May 2025  Oklahoma City Thunder are now one win away from the NBA Finals after narrowly defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves, 128-126. The victory, Oklahoma's third in four games and their first in Minnesota after a gruesome 143-101 defeat the other day, gave the Thunder a commanding 3-1 lead in their Western Conference Finals series. The series is set to return to Oklahoma for Game Five. Minnesota still lost despite putting up slightly better statistics in field goal shooting, including from the three-point area, and in defensive rebounding. Though numbers don't lie, the reason for the Thunder's victory was their success in virtually taking Minnesota's main players, Anthony Edwards and particularly Julius Randle, out of the game with physical double-teaming, and at times even triple-teaming defense. Oklahoma also took better care of the ball while forcing the Timberwolves into turnovers through steals and errors that they translated into points. And though both teams had an equal number of offensive rebounds, it was the manner in which Oklahoma got them and their better percentage in turning them into points that made the difference. While Edwards and Randle were struggling offensively, Oklahoma's main men, season MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and partner Jalen Williams, were having their way against the Timberwolves' defense. Top big men Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein also outplayed their Minnesota counterpart Rudy Gobert on both ends. Due to these factors, Oklahoma was in control of the game almost from the get-go and even enjoyed sizable leads that Minnesota tried to narrow down but vainly attempted to overhaul, using other players off the bench to help out Jaden McDaniels. Fortunately for coach Chris Finch, Naz Reid, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and even Donte DiVincenzo and Terrence Shannon Jr. were able to live up to the challenge, and their combined output kept the Timberwolves in the game. But Oklahoma was never truly in danger of being overhauled. With 1:21 left, Oklahoma was even ahead by seven, 123-116. McDaniels, however, got hot again and scored back-to-back triples to make it 123-121. Free throws by Alexander made it 125-121 with 15 seconds left. After a Gobert putback made it 125-123, the game became a tactical battle of fouling and free-throwing, with Minnesota desperately trying for an equalizer which didn't come. Alexander topped all scorers with 40 points. Williams supported him with 34, and Holmgren had 16 for Oklahoma. Alexander-Walker led Minnesota with 23 points, followed by McDaniels with 22 points. Edwards only managed 16 points, while Gobert posted 13 points plus 9 rebounds. Game five is set back in Oklahoma this Thursday (Manila time). The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.  |
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