Thunder credit Wolves' 'physicality' in blowout loss in Game 3 - ESPN

MINNEAPOLIS — As excruciating as the most lopsided playoff loss in franchise history was for the Oklahoma City Thunder, it was pretty easy to explain.

After winning the first two games of the Western Conference finals, the Thunder were physically dominated in Saturday's 143-101 Game 3 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

«It's not complicated,» power forward/center Chet Holmgren. «Wherever they wanted to go, they got there. They did what they wanted to do. We didn't stop them.»

Oklahoma City had a similarly poor start after taking a 2-0 lead over the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, but the Thunder rallied from a 29-point deficit to win that Game 3 en route to a series sweep. Oklahoma City never mounted a serious comeback bid after falling into a 20-point hole in the first quarter against Minnesota.

«They kept their foot on the gas tonight, and we were just never able to give ourselves any traction in game,» Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. «I thought their defensive pressure and physicality definitely stood out early. They were definitely throwing the first punch in the game.»

Newly crowned MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the rest of Oklahoma City's starters exited the game for good with minutes remaining in the third quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with only 14 points. That matched rookie reserve guard Ajay Mitchell for the team high, but it was Gilgeous-Alexander's lowest total this season, regular season or playoffs.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who averaged 34.5 points in the first two games of the series, finished 4-of-13 from the floor with four turnovers. He attempted only four free throws after taking a total of 29 in the Thunder's two home wins over the Timberwolves.

«We just were more aggressive