Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder beat the rested Timberwolves 114-88 in Game 1 of West finals

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander caught fire in the second half, scoring 20 of his game-high 31 points to lift the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder past the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday night.

After struggling early, shooting just 2-of-13 in the first half, Gilgeous-Alexander found his rhythm, hitting 8 of 14 shots after the break to power the Thunder’s dominant second-half surge.

Minnesota’s Julius Randle led his team with 28 points, but was limited to just eight after halftime. Anthony Edwards, who had averaged 26.5 points per game during the postseason, was held to 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting. He credited Oklahoma City’s defensive strategy, saying they “packed the paint,” and hinted the Timberwolves will adjust for Game 2, set for Thursday in Oklahoma City.

Despite coming off a grueling Game 7 win over Denver just two days earlier, the Thunder showed no signs of fatigue. Meanwhile, Minnesota, who had a full week of rest, faded as the game wore on.

The Timberwolves held a 48-44 halftime lead behind a red-hot Randle, who knocked down five of six from beyond the arc in the opening half. But the Thunder responded with a 10-0 run in the third quarter to seize control, going up 66-60.

Kenrich Williams, who had seen limited playoff action, gave OKC a major boost off the bench with a jumper and a three-pointer on back-to-back possessions, pushing the lead to 71-62. The Thunder outscored Minnesota 32-18 in the third, taking a 76-66 edge into the final quarter.

A highlight-reel spinning dunk in traffic by Chet Holmgren electrified the crowd and stretched the lead to 86-75. Moments later, Gilgeous-Alexander drew a foul while falling and tossed up a wild shot that somehow dropped. He completed the three-point play to make it 91-77 with seven minutes to go, sealing the momentum for Oklahoma City.