Minnesota Timberwolves Stun NBA with Dramatic Playoff Comeback—How Anthony Edwards & Karl-Anthony Towns Rewrote History

MINNEAPOLIS—The Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves on the brink of elimination after a heart-pounding 128-126 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals at Target Center, dropping the series to 3-1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander powered OKC with 40 points, while Jalen Williams added 34, combining for 74 of the Thunder’s points and repeatedly silencing a raucous Minneapolis crowd that had sensed a series-tying victory was within reach. Anthony Edwards poured in 31 points for Minnesota, but the Wolves’ All-Star guard was held to just one field goal over the final four minutes as Oklahoma City’s length and trapping schemes forced late-clock looks. Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in 25 and Naz Reid delivered a crucial 18 off the bench, yet Minnesota could not overcome a 16-6 second-chance point disparity that ultimately decided the thriller. Key Turning Point Midway through the fourth quarter, the Timberwolves led 118-112 after back-to-back triples from Edwards and Mike Conley. The Thunder answered with a 9-2 burst fueled by Gilgeous-Alexander’s relentless drives and Chet Holmgren’s put-back dunk, seizing the lead for good with 2:03 remaining. What’s at Stake No team in franchise history has ever rallied from a 3-1 deficit, and Minnesota has never advanced to the NBA Finals. If they hope to rewrite history, the Timberwolves must steal Game 5 in Oklahoma City on Thursday night and force a return to Target Center for a potential Game 6. Adjustments to Watch • Rebounding urgency: OKC’s 11 extra shot attempts stemmed from 14 offensive boards; head coach Chris Finch hinted postgame that bigger lineups featuring both Towns and Rudy Gobert could be prioritized earlier. • Tempo control: When Minnesota pushed off defensive rebounds, Edwards found early-clock lanes; when possessions slowed, the Thunder’s half-court defense suffocated ball movement. • Perimeter variance: Despite shooting 52% from deep, the Wolves attempted only 29 threes. Expect Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker to hunt corner looks quicker in Game 5. Quote of the Night “It’s win or go home now,” Edwards said at the podium. “We’ve handled adversity all year; we didn’t come this far just to fold.” Looking Ahead Game 5 tips at 8:30 p.m. ET at Paycom Center. A Timberwolves victory extends the Western Conference Finals back to Minnesota; a loss sends Oklahoma City to its first NBA Finals appearance since 2012. Search interest surrounding “Minnesota Timberwolves playoffs,” “Anthony Edwards Game 5,” and “Timberwolves comeback 3-1” is expected to spike as fans scour the web for the latest injury updates, lineup tweaks, and ticket availability.