The Oklahoma City Thunder managed to convert the Minnesota Timberwolves 19 turnovers to 31 points, in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals in a 114-88 rout Tuesday night.
The history of the Thunder vs. the Timberwolves
Oklahoma City joins the 2017 Golden State Warriors, the only team in the past 25 years to convert turnovers into at least 30 points in a row in the playoffs.
The Thunder also scored 37 points in their victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 7. They forced an NBA-high 18.3 turnovers in every game in this playoff game.
The Thunder have a +176-point difference in seven home playoffs in 2025.
This is the highest difference in seven games in NBA playoff history! pic.twitter.com/hyezflusea
— Greg Harvey (@betweenthenums) May 21, 2025
After the team shot only 37.5% from the field in the first half, it was a defensive masterpiece that was very needed. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams combined to shoot only 21 shots in the field at the end of the half.
However, despite only 44 points, Oklahoma City fell just four points in half of the game, with 18 of them without turnovers. In the offensive struggle, the Thunder’s defense kept them playing in the game.
“I just think it took us a second to calibrate our opponents, but our defense allowed us to do that,” Thunder coach Mark Digneault said. “For us, we were all poor in the offense in the first half, and at halftime, two quarters were our big win.”
OKC leads the NBA with turnover points
Now, the Thunder averaged 25.3 turnovers during the playoffs, which is the most team in any postseason in the 1997 playoffs.
Oklahoma City has the highest defense in the regular season, allowing 106.6 points per 100 games, 2.5 points less than any other team – the Thunder are better than ever.
In 12 playoff games, the Thunder allowed only 100.7 points per 100 games in 12 playoff games. The Timberwolves scored the second-brain defense this playoffs, allowing 107.8 points per 100 games.
The Thunder took a 66-60 lead with a 10-0 record in the third quarter. Oklahoma City then beat Minnesota 32-18 in the third quarter to reach fourth place by a 76-66 advantage.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 points in the second half with 31 points, helping Oklahoma City beat Minnesota 38-22 in the final frame. Williams added 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals.
Additionally, Minnesota has only 20 points in paint since the 2004 Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, the team's fewest in the playoffs.
The Thunder once again hosted the Timberwolves’ second game on Thursday.
