After getting body-snatched in Game 3 by the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are now one loss away from going from “Western Conference darlings” to “Wait, weren’t they supposed to be the league favorites?” The vibes were immaculate after going up 2–0. Then came the 143-101 massacre, and now it’s either bounce back or bounce out.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, our newly crowned MVP, had a night to forget—14 points on 4-of-13 shooting, 2 boards, 6 assists, and the kind of body language usually reserved for tax audits. The Timberwolves? Oh, they came with smoke.
So… Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing tonight? Yes. Thankfully, yes. Despite disappearing in Game 3, Shai’s fine. No injury. He’s suiting up for Game 4, probably with vengeance in mind. Let’s hope without flashbacks to whatever Game 3 was.
He knows it wasn’t pretty. “Turnovers early… they were more physical early… they made shots and we missed shots,” Shai said when asked what went wrong. No excuses—just facts. The Thunder got punched in the mouth, and their MVP felt every bit of it.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on what went wrong in Game 3:
“Turnovers early… they were more physical early… they made shots and we missed shots.” pic.twitter.com/q8MHD80aD0
— CourtSideHeat (@CourtSideHeat) May 26, 2025
Meanwhile, Nikola Topic remains out after knee surgery, but he wasn’t part of the playoff rotation. Everyone else? All hands on deck. On top of everything, Minnesota is fully healthy and ready to go full throttle. They barely broke a sweat last game—and unless OKC wakes up, they might not in Game 4 either.
So who’s really got to step up tonight? Let’s take a look at OKC’s depth chart—and where the cracks are starting to show:
Thunder’s Depth Chart vs Timberwolves for Game 4
Before we break down the nitty‑gritty of who’s manning each spot, remember this: after a 42‑point beatdown in Game 3, OKC’s usual blueprint blew up. The Wolves’ star – Anthony Edwards – unleashed his next‑level game, and even veteran Julius Randle got benched in the fourth. Now, with Game 4 looming, here’s exactly who’s penciled in when the Thunder try to avoid a 3–1 hole.
POSITION
STARTERS
2nd UNIT
3rd UNIT
PG
Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander
Cason Wallace
Ajay Mitchell
SG
Luguentz Dort
Alex Caruso
Cason Wallace
SF
Jalen Williams
Isaiah Joe
Aaron Wiggins
PF
Chet Holmgren
Aaron Wiggins
Jalen Williams
C
Isaiah Hartenstein
Jaylin Williams
Chet Holmgren
Let’s be real: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t have nights like that often. But that performance was the exception, not the rule. Shai’s bounced back all year long—after rough nights, nagging injuries, or defensive schemes thrown at him like a chess board. Game 4? Expect the real MVP to clock back in.
The Timberwolves deserve their flowers, though. Their Game 3 wasn’t a fluke—it was a beatdown with intent. Anthony Edwards was surgical, Karl-Anthony Towns spread the floor, and even Terrence Shannon Jr. looked like a breakout star in the making. Add in a defense that turned OKC’s flowing offense into a clogged drain, and you’ve got the recipe for that 143-point explosion. But that kind of night—nearly 60% shooting, single-digit turnovers, bench guys turning into All-Stars—is lightning in a bottle. Minnesota might be scary, but they won’t be that perfect again.
Still, the deeper issue for OKC might not be about Edwards or Randle. It’s about what’s behind Shai and Jalen Williams. That Game 3 box score didn’t lie—outside the top guys, there’s just not enough juice. Aaron Wiggins had hustle, Alex Caruso had savvy, but neither made a dent. This team is young, deep in theory, but when it comes to playoff fire, the second unit’s more spark than flame right now.
So now it comes down to this: is Game 3 who the Thunder really are under pressure—or was it a wake-up call? OKC? They’ve got one more shot to prove the moment isn’t too big.
Game 4 isn’t just a bounce-back opportunity. It’s a referendum. On Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, on the depth, and on whether this Thunder team is built for now, or just next.
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