38 points, 3 basketballs and 8 assists, a record of 35 years was reached by Alexander 5 times

On May 23, 2025, the NBA playoffs continued, with the Thunder 118-103 Timberwolves. After the game began, the two sides fell into a fierce battle, with the scores alternately leading. The Thunder confronted the Timberwolves' three-pointer with their multi-point offensive mode. In the first quarter, Dortmund led the team to a 9-0 attack wave, but Divincenzo and Walker made three-pointers to stop the decline. The Timberwolves once scored a 7-0 offensive in the second quarter to overtake, but the Thunder then scored 5 points in a row, ending the first half with a 58-50 advantage. In the second half, the Thunder completely suppressed their opponents on both offense and defense, and widened the gap to more than 20 points in one fell swoop in the third quarter, laying the final victory. Although the Timberwolves struggled to catch up with points in the last quarter and frequently hit the basket, the Thunder adjusted their defensive strategy in time. Alexander's pass and shot stabilized the situation. In the end, the Thunder won with a 15-point advantage and led the Western Conference Finals 2-0 with a total score.

The key to the Thunder's victory in this game is the perfect combination of efficient offense and strict defense of the whole team. Judging from the data, the Thunder's shooting percentage is as high as 50%, far higher than the Timberwolves' 41.4%; assists are 30 to 20 and steals are 9 to 2. These data fully demonstrate the Thunder's absolute advantage in offensive organization and defensive aggression. In terms of tactical execution, the Thunder successfully restricted the Timberwolves' off-line offense, allowing Edwards to make only 1 of 9 three-pointers, and the overall three-point shooting percentage was only 28.2%. The advantage of scoring 58 to 44 in the inside reflects the Thunder's dominance at the basket. In the Timberwolves, injuries are not the main problem, but core player Randle made only 2 of 11 shots and scored only 6 points in the game, seriously dragging down the team's offense. The Thunder's rotation depth is also significantly better than the Timberwolves, with the bench contributing 25 points, providing full rest for the main players. At the same time, Alexander scored several NBA records in one game, and five NBA historical records were reached, once again proving his MVP strength!

Alexander's MVP performance

Alexander showed unparalleled dominance in this game, scoring 38 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals, making 12 of 2 shots in the game, 1 of 2 three-pointers, and 13 of 15 free throws, with amazing efficiency! In the first quarter, Alexander showed great aggressiveness, made continuous breakthroughs, and created multiple scoring opportunities for his teammates. His mid-range jump shot in the second quarter was as natural as the flowing water, especially after the Timberwolves overtook 7-0, he made two consecutive mid-range jump shots to stabilize the morale of the army. In the second half, Alexander's performance was even more explosive! In the third quarter, he not only scored by himself, but also frequently provided accurate assists to his teammates, leading the team to a 22-8 offensive, widening the gap in one fell swoop. When the Timberwolves struggled to chase and score in the last quarter, Alexander stepped forward again, broke through continuously and caused fouls, and hit the free throw steadily, completely destroying the Timberwolves' hope of counterattack.

It is worth mentioning that Alexander not only performed well on the offensive end, but also amazing on the defensive end. His three steals came from critical moments, especially the steal against Edwards in the fourth quarter, which directly turned into a fast break score, widening the gap to more than 15 points again. As the absolute core of the team, Alexander proved to everyone that his MVP deserves his reputation with his all-round performance! His +/- value on the court is as high as +25, the second highest in the team, fully reflecting his overall influence on the game.

Alexander reached 5 historical records

According to statistics on the NBA official website, after this game, Alexander has set or tied several NBA playoff records! First of all, this is his 10th consecutive game of playoffs with 30+ points and 5+ assists, breaking the 9-game record previously held by James and setting a new NBA playoff record. Secondly, he became the first player in NBA history to average more than 35 points and assist more than 7 times in the first two games of the Western Conference Finals, showing a perfect combination of super strong scoring and organizational skills.

Third, Alexander's 38 points in this game set a new record for his personal single-game score in the playoffs, and it is also the second highest single-game score in the Western Conference Finals in the history of the Thunder, second only to Durant's 40-point record set in 2012. Fourth, his free throw percentage in this game was as high as 86.7% (13/15), which is also his 15th consecutive game with a free throw percentage of more than 80% of the game, tying a record set by Nash in NBA history.

Finally, Alexander's real shooting percentage in this game was as high as 72.3%. This is the first time in NBA history that a player scored 35+ points in a single game in the playoffs, his real shooting percentage exceeded 70% and his mistakes were less than 2 times! This data fully reflects Alexander's outstanding performance in high efficiency and low errors. The achievement of these records is not only a digital breakthrough, but also another improvement in Alexander's position in NBA history. If the Thunder can win the championship, Alexander will undoubtedly become a representative figure of the new generation of superstars in the NBA!

As the Thunder took a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals, the outside world's evaluation of this young team has also changed significantly. Stephen A. Smith, a famous ESPN commentator, said after the game: "The Thunder is no longer the young team that takes time to grow. They are now the championship-level team! Alexander's performance is comparable to Kobe at his peak, and the defensive intensity and offensive efficiency of the entire team are amazing. "

However, some experts have pointed out the structural shortcomings of the Thunder's lineup. TNT commentator Charles Barkley believes: "The Thunder's inside depth is still a problem. If Haltenstein encounters foul trouble, they may be in trouble when facing a stronger inside. "This view is indeed worth paying attention to. Haltenstein was limited in playing time due to four fouls in this game.

For the next game of the playoffs, the Thunder will go to challenge the Timberwolves away. Although the Thunder are currently leading 2-0, the pressure of away games cannot be underestimated. Historical data shows that in the history of NBA playoffs, the probability of a 2-0 team finally advancing is as high as 93.7%, but the Timberwolves' fighting power at home cannot be ignored. If the Thunder can win another away game, then advancing to the finals will almost be a foregone conclusion!

Alexander's MVP performance once again proves his superstar status in today's league, and his comprehensiveness in scoring, organization and defensive abilities has reached unprecedented heights. From a historical perspective, if he can maintain such a performance and eventually lead the team to the championship, he will have a chance to be among the greatest point guards in NBA history! Although the Thunder performed well overall, the depth of the inside and the stability of the bench are still potential risks, especially when facing stronger opponents.

Timberwolves, this game exposed the problem of their overly reliance on Edwards on the offensive end, and Randall's sluggish performance made it even worse. If they want to get a goal back at home, they must improve overall shooting efficiency, especially the three-point shooting percentage, while reducing turnovers, and avoid being converted into fast break scores by the Thunder.

As the series deepens, we can’t help but ask: Can Alexander continue his MVP-level performance? Can the Thunder's young lineup withstand the test of the finals? Does the Timberwolves still have a chance to win a game at home?