Wolves vs OKC Tonight: Live Stream, Start Time & Key Matchups for Pivotal Playoff Clash

The Oklahoma City Thunder survived a frantic finish in Minneapolis on Monday night, edging the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-126 to seize a commanding 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a playoff-career-high 40 points, including four clutch free-throws in the final 14 seconds, to silence a Target Center crowd that had roared back into the series 48 hours earlier. The All-NBA guard shot 14-for-24 from the field and added seven assists, repeatedly knifing into Minnesota’s drop coverage to create paint touches and open threes. Key takeaways 1. Wolves’ furious rally falls short • Anthony Edwards (34 pts, 8 rebs, 6 ast) uncorked 17 fourth-quarter points, trimming a 12-point deficit to one with 21 seconds left. • Karl-Anthony Towns’ potential game-winning triple rimmed out at the buzzer, capping a 2-for-9 night from deep for the All-Star big man. 2. Thunder’s supporting cast stays steady • Chet Holmgren (22 pts, 11 rebs, 4 blk) erased multiple Edwards drives at the rim, flashing the length that has anchored OKC’s No. 2 playoff defense. • Jalen Williams added 19 points and six assists, punishing over-helps with timely baseline cuts. 3. Minnesota’s turnover woes return • After coughing it up only eight times in their 42-point Game 3 rout, the Wolves committed 16 turnovers that led directly to 23 Thunder points. • Oklahoma City’s half-court trapping bothered Mike Conley, who finished with just three assists and four giveaways. Why Game 4 matters for the series narrative Historically, NBA teams that go up 3-1 in a best-of-seven win the series more than 94 percent of the time. For Minnesota, Wednesday’s Game 5 in Oklahoma City is effectively an elimination game; no franchise has ever rallied from 3-1 deficits in consecutive rounds. The Thunder, meanwhile, are one victory from their first Finals trip since 2012 and could clinch on home hardwood where they boast a 41-7 record (regular season + playoffs). Matchup trends to monitor heading into Game 5 • Pace & Paint: OKC pushed off every live rebound, outscoring Minnesota 24-14 in transition. Slowing that tempo will be priority No. 1 for coach Chris Finch. • Edwards vs. Dort: Lu Dort held Edwards to 3-for-11 shooting when he was the primary defender, but picking up his fifth foul early in the fourth forced Mark Daigneault to shift Williams onto Ant, triggering Minnesota’s late surge. Watch for double-drag screens to free Edwards from Dort’s chest. • Corner threes: The Thunder generated 13 corner-three attempts by collapsing the Wolves’ weak-side tagger; Holmgren’s short-roll passing has become a cheat code. Injury and rotation updates • Timberwolves: Naz Reid (left ankle sprain) logged only nine minutes; his status is day-to-day. If Reid can’t go, expect Kyle Anderson to absorb backup-5 minutes in smaller lineups. • Thunder: Josh Giddey (thumb) returned after missing Game 3 but played just 11 minutes. Daigneault hinted postgame that Aaron Wiggins’ energy may keep him in the closing rotation. How to watch Game 5 Game 5 tips Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and streams via the ESPN App and SlingTV. Tickets at Paycom Center were nearly sold out by midnight; verified resale prices started at $275. SEO-friendly quick facts • Final score: Oklahoma City Thunder 128, Minnesota Timberwolves 126 • Series: Thunder lead 3-1, Western Conference finals • Stars: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 40 pts; Anthony Edwards 34 pts • Location: Target Center, Minneapolis • Next game: Wednesday, May 28 — Game 5 in Oklahoma City With the Wolves’ backs to the wall and the Thunder one step from the NBA’s biggest stage, the “Wolves vs OKC” rivalry has never carried higher stakes. Expect fireworks in the Sooner State.