MINNEAPOLIS — Mark Daigneault swears the Oklahoma City Thunder still have growing to do, hinting they’re not a complete product. He keeps trying to tamp down expectations in his own subtle way because once the pressure starts it’s endless.
But it’s impossible to deny the Thunder are bucking every trend, starting with the notion the NBA is no longer a place for Big Threes leading to big winning.
The Thunder are now 48 minutes from advancing to the NBA Finals because Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was joined in this playoff party by Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.
In the Western Conference finals' most competitive and entertaining game, it was the Thunder who looked more mature, more settled and more in control against the Minnesota Timberwolves, holding them off Monday night in a 128-126 win at Target Center to take a 3-1 series lead.