As the Oklahoma City Thunder traveled to the Minnesota Timberwolves, they entered Games 3 and 4 of the Western Conference Finals with a series lead. It sounds like a rich person’s problem, but that can be a dangerous advantage for the first seed.
The Thunder’s 143-101 Game 3 loss to the Timberwolves proved that. OKC has been part of plenty of butt-kickings like that, but it’s usually the boot. This was the first time we’ve seen another team manhandle the title favorite. The 42-point playoff loss was the worst in franchise history.
It was a rude awakening that showed the Thunder wouldn’t cruise through the Western Conference Finals despite the Timberwolves being underdogs. Jalen Williams admitted they must urgently play in a pivotal Game 4 that could determine the series’ length.
“Not getting complacent for sure,” Williams said on the challenges of being up in a playoff series. “It’s definitely easy going out there and human nature is just, ‘Alright we’re up so we can kinda relax.’”
The Thunder may be viewed as the heavy title favorite from the four teams left, but they have to prove it on the court. They’ve done so all season. A Game 3 embarrassment was likely an anomaly. Expect OKC to play much better against Minnesota and deliver a fatal blow to the latter’s odds of pulling off the upset.