MINNEAPOLIS — The Thunder probably didn’t need a film session for the realization. They scarfed the leftovers of Game 3 anyway, confirmation of what it felt like in real time.
Those who spoke on behalf of Oklahoma City on Sunday seemed to come to a common conclusion. The team that suited up against Minnesota in Saturday’s 143-101 loss wasn’t the team that won 68 regular-season games.
“Yeah, I think we just played a little out of character,” guard Alex Caruso said.
The expressions and look of the Thunder on Saturday night was unlike what they’ve shown before. The loss of the turnover battle, their first of this postseason. The loss of power in the paint, the first of its kind this series.
“It was obvious that we didn’t play the way we usually play,” Cason Wallace said. “They got to the rim, they got passes, like they had whatever they wanted. They were the more aggressive team.
“We didn’t have the fight for it.”
The Timberwolves brought the fight, though. It was evident in the way forward Julius Randle shoved his way to position on box outs and on the wing. In the way star Anthony Edwards forced his way down to the lane, down the throats of the OKC defense.
That his best game came in Minnesota’s best start was no coincidence.
That it happened at the expense of the Thunder’s will, with the Wolves being the aggressor, was the surprise. The turnovers that OKC forced through two games had driven the Wolves crazy.
Turnovers, despite the Thunder not focusing on them, have been a catalyst. For the season and this series. Wallace didn’t seem convinced that Saturday was more than an anomaly.
He also expressed confidence that, should OKC return to its identity, turnovers wouldn’t be the only way it could win.
“We haven’t been in that situation many times,” Wallace said. “But throughout the game, like (if) we’re playing to our standard and doing the things that we usually do, (if we) don’t win one section, we’ll win another. That wasn’t the case last night, though.”
Regardless of whether the Thunder feels Saturday could be replicated or not, that it happened still leaves a sour taste.
The Thunder surely seem more confident than any team with a playoff loss of such magnitude.
“It’s a loss, no matter how much we lose by,” Wallace said. “But watching film, seeing the way that we lost, definitely gives us an edge for tomorrow.”
Caruso added: “Looking forward to having the opportunity to go out there and be who we are, rather than let them dictate terms their way.”
Joel Lorenzi covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. He can be reached at jlorenzi@oklahoman.com or on X at @joelxlorenzi.
