Timberwolves-Thunder: 5 snack bar as OKC's defense with 2-0 in the lead

Oklahoma City – The Timberwolves slowly have no answers, adjustments and if this stays up to date, games are in the final of the Western Conference.

The best-of-Seven series is 2-0, Advantage Thunder, and if Minnesota does not show anything else at home, the next time Basketball will be in the Paycom Center on game 1 of the NBA final.

For the second game in a row, Oklahoma City seemed to be a No. 1 seed for a certain reason that took control in a one-sided third quarter forever and her defense and deep and deep and of course the freshly shaped Kia MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Aalexander-to bring the wolves to their place.

With the exception of some scattered sprint over two games, the thunder took over and indications that it develops into a one -sided series. Every drama or excitement or at least a closure must wait until after game 3 (Sat., 8:30 ET, ABC) or beyond after OKC won the first two games with combined 41 points.

OKC flirted with danger in the seven-game semi-final against the nuggets, fell back twice, but has not yet felt much excitement where they are one step closer to the final.

Here are five snack bars with the 118-103 victory from OKC, with the next two games in the Target Center devoted to Minneapolis:

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1. Shai recalled sold -out crowds and wolves, the MVP is

When he lifted Michael Jordan Trophy high in the air in front of Tippoff, his home fans raised her voices. Therefore, both the MVP Award and the noise were heard loud and certified at the same time, and they scream – Shai is sitting on the Hoop world.

It is even better that the mood in game 2 continued, only in the event that the wolves were not convinced. Shai dominated this series for the first two quarters of game 1 when he could not get any shots to fall unusually. Doesn't matter. Two nights after a bullish second half carried the thunder until her first victory, Shai was consistent during the follow -up examination. Similar to the regular season, his presence was felt on both ends – and dropped Middies on one side and got rid of the ball on the other.

“He was ready to play,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneult. “He led with his rapprochement, his strength, his mix. He threw large passes, chose his places … The scoreboard moved down the route.”

In total, his 38 points, eight templates and three steals in victory told. And this performance did something else to take a level via Anthony Edwards. Wasn't it in this series that these were two young stars who dealt with an arm writer over the mythical face face? Well, that's not. And it must never.

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2. Wolves have been standing before their first stress test since March

In this post -season, no team was turned into this post -season with the power of the wolves. Partly from despair, partly from growth, the wolves were the hottest team in the league when the playoffs started. They went 17: 4 to end the season and won the eight out of 10 through the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Welcome finally in adversity.

They have now lost twice in a row, and Minnesota is no longer faced with a lower competition. No more airy nights against jazz, no Lakers or Stephen Curry-Weniger warriors. OKC is for real and healthy and bring very few defects in which you can take advantage of. The wolves have to bring A-Games with you to give themselves a chance, and that has not yet happened.

Your answer, starting with game 3, will tell. Can Edwards finally keep his foot on the gas? Will Julius Randle bounce back? And really, what changes can coach Chris Finch train in the next 48 hours?

Your biggest need is a creative point. Mike Conley seems to be gassed in this phase of his career. And nobody from the bank brings a passport attitude with it and leaves Edwards and sales tilted to cope with the ball and create for others. And OKCS best rated defense is clever for this.

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3. Randle finally turns into steam

It happened – Randle was not only through a large part of game 2, but in the fourth quarter when he never left the bank. Maybe that was inevitable, maybe he was due. In any case, it was an unusual sight in these playoffs that saw Randle stammer and fought through a game.

Do this actually one and a half games. Randle had a strong 20 points in the first half of game and has not been the same since then, only 14 points in the last six quarters after a hard night on Thursday, in which he had two field goals and four sales.

Was it a lack of belief that Wolves coach Chris Finch was missing?

“I thought NAZ had a good game, just wanted to see if I could spread the ground and make a quick decision,” said Finch.

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4. Okc's defense against Wolve's offensive is a mismatch

Randle's problems throw something even more difficult for the wolves. Your crime or her ability to score points with efficiency is not unanimous against OKC's defense.

If the ball is on this side of the square, OKC has the advantage. Their defenders are opportunistic, attack dribbles, use Swift rotations to cover double teams, browse the ball and close the lanes.

This is reinforced when the wolves look for buckets or another hot hand outside of Edwards and Randle. They are not built what the dirty little secret of this team is. Minnesota is a grinding team that has dependent on defense and rebound and Edwards as a superstar. The wolves did not hit anyone in a game with a high score.

There is so much weight on players such as Reid, Donte Divincenzo and Jaden McDaniels, and none are volume scorers. In two games in this series, they were not always reliable goal scorers.

Edwards had 16 of his 32 points in the first half, looked around for help in the second and could not find it, apart from linging, to late buckets by McDaniels (22 points) and Nickeil Alexander Walker (17). Edwards had no other choice to bring violence and further attempts at the shooting (22) after creating a mild 18-point game 1, only five in the second half.

“Edwards have been relaxed,” said Daigniegt. “Our boys accepted this challenge. He really had to earn everything he got.”

It was a frustrating experience that boiled up when McDaniels pushed Shai onto the floor in the middle of the fourth quarter of Shai, OKC by 16 points.

“I just wanted to double it,” said McDaniels. “I wasn't even crazy. I only had to use fouls.”

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5. Jalen Williams is no longer in a radio

He fought a large part of the semi -finals against the nuggets and these nights proved to be OKC, which was stretched on seven games.

Since? Williams gave himself and more. He had a strong game 7 to eliminate Denver, and then for the second game in a row in the two victories against Minnesota.

On Thursday he was good for 26 points, 10 rebounds and five templates and no sales. Its energy was noticeable. He gives thunder exactly what you need, a capable co-star for Shai-a role in which Williams is filled all over the season.

“He was really aggressive,” said Daigneult. “He selected the right places to get and pull up at his points, selected the right places to attack the basket.

Do these great performance, plural. In two games in this series, Williams has 45 points, 18 rebounds, 10 assists and is still waiting to commit his first sales against a very good defense in Minnesota. Also six steals.

The wolves have problems solving and he is one of them.

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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can send him an email Herefind His archive here And Follow him on X.

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