Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves send message to OKC Thunder: 'Can’t wait to see them again'

Anthony Edwards shook his head plenty Monday. He’d side-eyed and deadpanned and smacked his lips after whistles. But he hadn’t smiled nearly as wide as he did once it was all over.

The 22-year-old jogged past the white brick walls that define the back halls of the Paycom Center with jubilation. He slowed to a trot in his approach to the visiting locker room, stuttering his steps like a triumphant marathon runner. He crossed the finish line with a message.

“F— wrong with ‘em,” Edwards shouted. “Can’t wait to see them again.”

He had every reason in the world to scream through the bowels of the arena like it was his.

The Thunder led the season series. The Wolves’ fourth-quarter execution had recently been questioned. After a loss to OKC in Minnesota weeks back, he showed frustration in the way Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was officiated. On Monday, he showed frustration in the way the game was officiated when talking to a sideline reporter.

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And now, Edwards (27 points, four rebounds and four assists) had the heaviest hand in the Thunder’s suffocating 107-101 loss that put Minnesota back atop the Western Conference. As he retreated to his makeshift quarters, Edwards had a little extra pep in his step. That was the spirit of a man who watched his enemy’s face turn pale.

Days after 70-pieces from Luka Doncic and Joel Embiid, pundits settled on the idea that defense in the NBA is dead. Tell that to the Timberwolves and Thunder.

Monday’s game viewed like a Bruce Lee movie. Punches and intimidation and zone defense. Both sides forcing each other into rough quarters. A final score that read like a time capsule of the early 2000s.

In the Thunder’s case especially, there was shoddy shotmaking, airballs, possessions sent into the abyss by daunting defenders. The Wolves (33-14) picked a notable fourth quarter to change the narrative they haven’t been able to shake.

They made 11 of their 19 shots in the final quarter. They went 6 for 10 from deep. They had just one turnover. They led an 11-2 run during a 2:24 stretch to close the game.

For a team that’s been lauded for rarely embodying it’s true youthful composition, OKC (32-15) appeared to be in its infancy as a contender. Minnesota’s defense made it look young, inexperienced and indecisive in the dwindling minutes of the game.

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Missed 3-point opportunities, several of which out of desperation. A travel from Jalen Williams forced by Rudy Gobert’s intimidating drop coverage. A shot at the rim that Chet Holmgren, seemingly spooked, adjusted midair to avoid Gobert.

“There’s a reason why his teams are consistently winning teams and consistently really good defensive teams,” coach Mark Daigneault said of Gobert.

Holmgren has spoken about hesitation on 3-point opportunities. Pump fakes, passed-up shot attempts. Daigneault later noted those reactions beginning to dissipate. But with the way Minnesota was defending him — Gobert up higher in lineups with shooters and Jaden McDaniels hovering nearby otherwise — the rookie sensation looked as reluctant as he’s been all season.

In a two-point game with 2:13 to play, Holmgren launched his boldest attempt of the night: A heavily contest corner 3 with Karl Anthony-Towns closing out and Gobert just feet away. Holmgren finished with four points, seven rebounds and three blocks on 2-for-9 shooting.

The Wolves plucked any peach fuzz growing on the Thunder’s chin. Edwards knew it. He announced it, dashing through the hall while enjoying the last laugh of the teams’ regular-season series.

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Shai gonna Shai 

There’s a level of consistency to the way Gilgeous-Alexander’s minutes flow.

He sleepwalks into 10 first quarter points after playing the length of the period. He’s a third quarter monster. And when Jalen Williams and Holmgren have done some damage in the fourth, SGA comes along to finish things off.

But he entered the final period as early as he has all year Monday. With 9:45 to play, he was summoned back. Daigneault deemed it necessary.

“It felt like one of those games that was a possession game,” Daigneault said. “I try to be wise in terms of how I manage everybody’s minutes throughout the course of a season. It gives you the space to hit the gas on certain nights and I decided to hit the gas tonight.”

The All-Star starter was one of the few bright spots on a night when things eventually unraveled. Among the things that melted down for OKC, Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t one.

He came out swinging, toying with Gobert through pivots and off-hand finishes. Riding McDaniels’ hip to the rim for an improbable lay-in. He finished with 37 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Despite Minnesota’s countless adjustments, there was never a thing it could do to make Gilgeous-Alexander look bad.

Through 12 minutes, the Thunder totaled seven assists. It had 14 the rest of the way. Minnesota forced it into broken possessions, faulty actions and isolation ball. Gilgeous-Alexander obliged.

In the fourth quarter he sliced through impenetrable windows. Or he simply made his own. He added 12 points in the period and made six of his 15 free throws (15 for 16). Outside of SGA, OKC went 5 for 15 from the field in the final 12 minutes.

There was no hesitation from him. There were hardly any lapses in decision making. Just an attempt to carry an impossible load against a team fixated on him.

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Minnesota’s mind games with OKC’s shooters

The jig seemed to be up. At least temporarily.

After making his first three 3-pointers in the first quarter, Giddey seemed to have earned some respect from Gobert, who’d been assigned to him like plenty centers have this season. But the Frenchman defended him the same way the next four attempts — all misses. He dared him to shoot each one.

Players spoke about spacing and execution after Monday night’s game. There’s hardly an explanation for the way Minnesota shrunk the floor to close the game other than its defensive prowess. But before then? Giddey’s impact and the Wolves’ gameplan left a stark imprint on the game.

In his 19 minutes, Giddey produced a 94.7 offensive rating and a 139.5 defensive rating. He finished with a minus-44.7 net rating. Gobert roamed easier with him around.

Minnesota also tried its luck with Lu Dort, who’d been guarded by Towns. Dort finished 0 for 7 from the field and 0 for 6 from 3-point range on a night when he had to chase Edwards excessively.

It only made Monday night that much tougher.

“It’s a different look than it’s been,” Kenrich Williams said. “… It’s something that we’ve just gotta get better at, to be honest with you.”

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder falls out of first place in West with loss to Timberwolves