Thunder Hold Off Timberwolves in Down-to-the-Wire Showdown
Just when you thought the Western Conference Finals couldn’t get more dramatic, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves delivered a thriller on May 26, 2025. In front of a roaring crowd at Target Center, the Thunder squeaked past the Timberwolves 128-126, pushing their series lead to a commanding 3-1. The energy in the building was wild, especially as the game headed into the final minutes with everything still up for grabs.
The Thunder’s offense found another gear all night. Early on, Oklahoma City was sharp and quick in transition, keeping Minnesota’s defense scrambling. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played like a man on a mission, dropping clutch buckets and setting the tone for his team. His relentless drives to the rim made life tough for Timberwolves defenders, and every time Minnesota closed the gap, the Thunder had an answer.
On the other end, Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns refused to let Minnesota quit. Edwards hit a barrage of tough shots late in the third and took charge creatively in the fourth, hunting mismatches and firing passes to open shooters at the arc. Towns contributed his usual inside muscle and even canned a late three-pointer that brought the Timberwolves within striking distance in the final stretch.
Late-Game Fireworks and What’s Next
It all set the stage for a dramatic fourth quarter. With under two minutes left, the Thunder nursed a slim lead, and the Timberwolves ratcheted up the defensive pressure. A tipped pass from Mike Conley swung momentum Minnesota’s way, leading to a transition layup that cut the lead to one. But with the clock ticking down, the Thunder stuck to their script—quick ball movement, patience, and attacking mismatches.
- Key moment: With nine seconds on the clock, Jalen Williams buried a mid-range jumper over two defenders, sending the Thunder’s bench into a frenzy.
- Key stop: On Minnesota’s last possession, rookie Chet Holmgren stepped up with a surprising defensive block, snuffing out a potential game-tying shot from Towns.
It wasn’t just the stars who made the difference. Oklahoma City’s bench provided some much-needed energy in the first half, keeping the team in front when the Timberwolves made their initial push. Every loose ball and offensive rebound counted, and you could feel the tension every time the horn sounded for a timeout.
The series now goes back to Oklahoma City. That home crowd will be hungry to see their team clinch the Western Conference Finals and punch their ticket to the NBA Finals. The Timberwolves face a huge challenge: they need to win out to flip the series, but that's not stopping fans from hoping for a miracle comeback. If Game 4 was anything to go by, Game 5 will have no shortage of storylines, big moments, and pressure-packed plays as the Western Conference crown hangs in the balance.
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