Timberwolves Seek Solutions Amid Defeats to Thunder in Western Conference Finals

The Minnesota Timberwolves are facing an uphill battle in their quest to overcome the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. Despite their efforts, the reality of their situation is starting to become apparent, even as they prepare for two home games in this series. The frustration of the Timberwolves was evident during a game where Jaden McDaniels finally pushed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the floor for a flagrant foul, after enduring the latter's arm-hooking defense. "I just wanted to foul him for real. I wasn't even mad," McDaniels said. "I had fouls to use." The Timberwolves are more than annoyed by the officiating, hinting at it without fully crossing the line, but they are clearly distracted in their efforts to find answers against the Thunder. They played zone defense, but it was shredded by the Thunder's offensive prowess. Anthony Edwards got the ball in different places, but it only mattered so much in the end. The Thunder's execution is what is deflating the Timberwolves, particularly in the third quarter where they again ran away with the game and took a 2-0 lead with a 118-103 win at Paycom Center on Thursday night. "It's a five-minute stretch of a game that they take over," Timberwolves guard Mike Conley told Yahoo Sports. "They go up 12, 15 and the game gets out of hand." The Timberwolves' struggles are not just limited to the officiating. They have been outscored by the Thunder in the third quarter of both games, and their turnovers and inability to hit shots from beyond the arc have been a major issue. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 11 of his 38 points in that period, in front of a crowd that chanted "MVP" every time he went to the free-throw line. While the Thunder have struggled from the 3-point line like the Timberwolves (27% for Oklahoma City, 28% for Minnesota), they play a cleaner game and the Timberwolves can't get in front of the game long enough to exert control. "Little things are what they're doing," Conley said. "They're being physical. It's a dogfight. Bad calls, good calls, whatever." Conley is the only starter with a positive plus-minus, and the second he leaves the game, usually midway through the first and third quarters, the floodgates open. Julius Randle struggled after several stellar games, playing just 10 minutes in the second half as the Timberwolves tried to go smaller to match up with the Thunder's overall speed. "I gotta take responsibility and see how the flow of the game is going," Randle said. "Get myself in some type of action, whether it's screening or cutting or rebounding. But I'll figure it out." All agree that the Thunder stay connected, particularly on defense, which keys those third-quarter runs. It's deflating to look up after a solid half and see the slightest thing turn a competitive game into one that trends toward the danger zone.