Nickeil Alexander-Walker Shines: Timberwolves Guard’s Breakout Game Sparks Playoff Buzz

Nickeil Alexander-Walker stole the spotlight in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, pouring in 23 points off the bench as the Minnesota Timberwolves fell just short against the Oklahoma City Thunder, 128-126, on Tuesday night (May 27) in Minneapolis. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 40-point masterpiece ultimately nudged OKC to a 3-1 series lead, but it was his cousin on the opposing side who set social media ablaze. Alexander-Walker shot 9-for-15 overall and 5-for-8 from deep, igniting a furious second-half rally that briefly erased a 14-point deficit. The 25-year-old guard also added five rebounds, three assists and a steal in 31 high-energy minutes, eclipsing his previous playoff career high. Bench burst keeps Wolves alive Coach Chris Finch turned to his second unit early after the starting five opened the night cold from three-point range. Alexander-Walker answered with immediate offense, drilling back-to-back triples late in the first quarter to steady Minnesota’s wobbling attack. Alongside sharpshooter Donte DiVincenzo, the duo combined for 11 made threes, accounting for more than half of the Wolves’ long-distance production. “Nickeil’s confidence changes the tempo for us,” Finch said postgame. “He’s fearless, and that mentality spilled over to the rest of the group.” Cousins collide on the conference stage Tuesday marked the first time the Canadian cousins both eclipsed 20 points in the same playoff game, offering a riveting subplot to an already tense series. Gilgeous-Alexander praised his relative afterward, calling his performance “special” and “something the family will talk about for a long time.” Alexander-Walker downplayed the family narrative, but admitted facing Shai on this platform fuels his own competitive fire. “I’ve watched him dominate all year,” he said. “If I’m on the other side, I have to match that energy.” Why Alexander-Walker’s rise matters for Minnesota Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns draw most of the scouting attention, making reliable tertiary scoring vital for Minnesota’s comeback hopes. Over the last two games, Alexander-Walker is averaging 19.5 points while shooting 54 percent from beyond the arc, nearly doubling his regular-season output. His growth as a catch-and-shoot threat and secondary playmaker has unlocked five-out lineups that stretch OKC’s rim protection and create driving lanes for Edwards. What’s next in Game 5 The series shifts back to Paycom Center on Thursday. To extend their season, the Timberwolves will need another offensive jolt from Alexander-Walker while tightening perimeter defense after allowing the Thunder to shoot 51 percent in Game 4. Key stat watch: Minnesota is 6-1 this postseason when Alexander-Walker scores 12 or more, but 1-5 when he doesn’t reach double digits. Expect Finch to deploy him early alongside Edwards to test OKC’s second unit. Fantasy and prop-bet implications Alexander-Walker’s recent surge makes him a popular daily-fantasy value pick and a tempting “over” on points props currently hovering around 10.5. Bettors should monitor his usage rate, which spiked to 24 percent on Tuesday—well above his season average of 15 percent. Bottom line Whether or not the Timberwolves claw back into the series, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has cemented himself as a breakout story of the 2025 NBA playoffs. His fearless shot-making, timely playmaking and familial duel with Gilgeous-Alexander are driving massive fan interest—and could dictate how long Minnesota’s championship dream stays alive.