On Thursday night’s Western Conference finals Game 2 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s impact on Thunder offense was on full display. Midway through the first quarter, Lu Dort sank a wide-open three-pointer with minimal movement, a direct result of Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to draw multiple defenders and create easy scoring chances for his teammates.
This play exemplifies how “easy points” on the highest professional basketball stage often derive from the intense pressure generated by a star player rather than simple breaks or free throws. While Dort essentially just positioned himself on the wing without running through screens or rotations, Gilgeous-Alexander’s presence attracted three Minnesota defenders, opening room for Dort’s uncontested shot.
“I wanna highlight one very simple play from Game 2 that shows how much easier SGA makes life for his teammates. Lu Dort doesn’t move on this play. Like, at all. But SGA draws three defenders around the nail, so wide-open 3. Just exist in his orbit and you’re getting clean looks.” —Sam Quinn, CBS Sports
In the sequence, Jalen Williams advanced the ball and passed to Isaiah Hartenstein, who executed a precise pocket pass through two defenders, forcing Minnesota to collapse their defense. Rudy Gobert moved into the paint while Jaden McDaniels stuck closely to Gilgeous-Alexander, and Julius Randle left his man to help on Dort. This convergence of defenders around SGA’s driving threat creates high-percentage opportunities for his teammates without demanding extra movement.
The Defensive Edge That Limits Minnesota’s Shooting Efficiency
While Minnesota’s team includes offensive threats such as Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle, who also generate rim gravity, their performance in creating and converting open shots has been stifled by Oklahoma City’s defense. Despite Minnesota producing 48 wide-open three-point attempts across the first two games—averaging 24 wide-open shots per game, a figure topped only by the Chicago Bulls during the regular season—the Timberwolves have struggled to capitalize on these opportunities against the Thunder.
The effectiveness of Oklahoma City’s defense is evident in the shooting percentages allowed. During the regular season, opponents made only 37.2% of wide-open threes against the Thunder, tying Minnesota for the league’s lowest mark. However, in the playoffs, Oklahoma City’s defensive consistency improved further, holding opponents to just 31.9% from these shots. Minnesota’s rivals in the postseason, such as the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies, have shot similarly poorly on wide-open attempts when facing the Thunder, all lower than most other playoff teams.
Conversely, Minnesota’s opponents have capitalized at higher rates. The Los Angeles Lakers hit 40% of their wide-open threes against Minnesota, while the Golden State Warriors, even without key player Stephen Curry, managed a 41.3% success rate. This contrast underlines the particular challenge Oklahoma City poses to opposing offenses in the postseason.
Oklahoma City’s Defense: A Historic Barrier to Easy Scoring
Oklahoma City’s defensive unit outperformed all others in the NBA during the regular season by a significant margin. They were more than two points better per 100 possessions than the next best defense and led the league by over five points compared to Minnesota’s defense. The Thunder also allowed 256 fewer points in the paint than any other team and forced 67 more turnovers than their closest competitors.
These defensive strengths explain why the Thunder’s opponents struggle to convert even wide-open shots. The difference lies in the quality of the open looks. While Lu Dort’s wide-open three was the product of Gilgeous-Alexander’s extraordinary ability to command defensive attention without demanding movement, many of the Timberwolves’ open threes come under rushed conditions due to the Thunder’s relentless pressure.
Oklahoma City’s speed and aggressiveness force opposing shooters to attempt their shots hastily. Defenders do not allow easy points in the paint or comfortable ball movement. Offenses recognizing these challenges often choose to shoot quickly before the Thunder’s rapid closeouts disrupt their rhythm, resulting in many misses despite the nominally open looks.
The Combined Impact of Gilgeous-Alexander’s Offense and Thunder’s Defense in the Series
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander achieves a rare synergy between offensive prowess and defensive resilience on the Thunder. His rim gravity as a driver consistently pulls defenders inward, generating uncontested opportunities for teammates. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City’s defense diminishes the value of the wide-open shots it concedes, restricting opponents’ scoring efficiency.
This balanced strategy has been a defining characteristic throughout the postseason. Each playoff series the Thunder have competed in shows opponents struggling to land even their easiest attempted shots, especially from beyond the arc. This trend distinguishes Oklahoma City as possibly the most dominant defensive team in recent history and elevates Gilgeous-Alexander’s role as the catalyst of their offense.
Looking ahead, Game 3 will see Gilgeous-Alexander lead the Thunder once again against the Timberwolves, with their continued two-way excellence likely to play a critical role in the outcome. Should Oklahoma City secure the Western Conference title and advance to the NBA Finals, much credit will be due to the way Gilgeous-Alexander simplifies offense for his teammates and the team’s suffocating defense that restricts Minnesota and others from matching that production.
Ultimately, the Thunder’s ability to generate easy points through Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s impact on their offense, combined with their historic defensive performance, sets them apart as a serious championship contender in this postseason.