Chris Finch acknowledged that the Timberwolves were “a little cleaner” in their defensive approach against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, contributing to a strong performance in which he had season lows in points, field goals, and plus/minus. The Thunder star faced significant challenges, including an 8-second violation and being outscored by 32 points while on the floor, as the Timberwolves’ adjustments effectively neutralized him. In contrast, Terrance Shannon Jr. stood out with his physicality, scoring 15 points and influencing the game positively for Minnesota.
