The Timberwolves threw the first punch and the Thunder stayed on the mat Saturday night.
Now, according to new MVP and Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, it’s time for the NBA championship favorites to show their resolve.
“You get punched, you get back up. It’s about responding. That’s what the next challenge is,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after Saturday’s 143-101 blowout loss to the Timberwolves.
“We got punched in the mouth today. Next game, we’re either going to get back up or not, and we’ll lose the game. We have a decision to make, for sure.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (fourth from L) and the Thunder lost by 42 in Game 3. AP
What decision the Thunder make will play out Monday night in Game 4, and they will have the next 24-plus hours to rue this embarrassing loss.
Gilgeous-Alexander called out the lack of energy and focus displayed by he and his teammates in the 42-point setback that has changed the vibes about this series.
Oklahoma City took care of Minnesota comfortably in the first two games at home and seemed like it may be well on its way to the NBA Finals, but the Timberwolves came out swinging Saturday night.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored just 14 points in the blowout loss. Getty Images
Minnesota led by 20 after the first 12 minutes, 31 at halftime and led by as much as 45 in the second half.
Gilgeous-Alexander noted how the Timberwolves won the “energy” and “little” plays early, such as turnovers and offensive rebounds, and that set the tone for the night.
“We just didn’t bring it from an energy and focus standpoint. We just didn’t have it. They obviously had it with the sense of urgency, knowing if they go down 3-0 it’s going to be pretty tough and we just, what it felt like, eased into the game and they didn’t and they blitzed us pretty early and we were never able to get back because of it,” said Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored just 14 points in 28 minutes. “They just came out with a sense of urgency and we didn’t, and on top of that, when you play a really good team it looks like that. We gotta start, come out with a sense of urgency and see where the game lays.”
Added Thunder coach Mark Daigneault: “They were definitely throwing the first punch in the game.”
Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves rolled to a blowout Game 3 win. AP
One other problem Gilgeous-Alexander noted was how the team’s non-existent defense made life harder on the offense.
After allowing just 88 and 103 points in the first two games, respectively, the Thunder allowed the Timberwolves to shoot 57.3 percent from the field and 50 percent (20 of 40) from deep.
“We were taking the ball out of the net for the majority of the game, so they get back and get to set their defense,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “And I don’t care who you were in the NBA — against a good defense, it’s hard to score when they’re set. In the past two games, it hasn’t been that. We’ve been able to get stops and run and play. When you take the ball out of the net every time down, it’s tough regardless. I think that was part of the problem, out defense into our offense.”
