Normal Service Will Resume: Thunder

Gilgeous-Alexander Vows to Bounce Back After Game 3 Drubbing by Timberwolves

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MINNEAPOLIS — The sting of a 42-point loss has lingered for Oklahoma City Thunder guard and National Basketball Association (NBA) Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

On May 26 (May 27, Singapore time), the guard and his teammates will try to prove that Game 3 was an aberration instead of a crack in the team's foundation.

The Thunder will tip off against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in Minneapolis.

Oklahoma City have a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series but are coming off a 143-101 drubbing on May 24.

Gilgeous-Alexander said the embarrassing loss should serve as a wake-up call.

"We don't try to go out like that, I promise you," the 26-year-old said. "But whatever it is, we've got to figure it out if we want to reach our ultimate goals.

"That's what the days in between are for, to get better."

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves are eager to build upon a big win as they look to even the tie. A loss would put them on the verge of elimination, with the series shifting back to Oklahoma City for Game 5.

Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert said the team's approach should be simple.

"We know who we are," he said, "so just be ourselves."