By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The Minnesota Timberwolves fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder 97 – 102 in a clash between the top two teams in the Western Conference. Despite the loss, the Timberwolves still hold first place, now 30 – 12.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the man of the game with 33 points and six assists, scoring 11 of them in the fourth period to lead his team through a comeback from down 11. He made 12 of his points from the free-throw line, on 13 attempts.
Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards felt that the calls Gilgeous-Alexander got played a large part in the outcome. “It’s hard to [contain them] with the calls that Shai gets,” Edwards said. “It’s hard to shut them down. You can’t touch him any time of the game. It’s super hard to beat. That team is a good team, especially when they’re getting calls like that.”
While Minnesota shot the ball better than the Thunder (41.3 percent from the field against 39.5 percent) they committed 20 turnovers while their opponents had opponents had eight. Edwards made his self-criticism on that department.
“We got to stop turning it over,” said Edwards after finishing with five turnovers of his own. He also had a team-high tying 19 points, five rebounds and five assists. “I think it’s that simple. Myself, we’re playing in crowds. Sometimes it’s just a pass to the other team. Just got to cut back on them. We’ll be all right.”