Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault spoke candidly after his team’s 42-point defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.
Daigneault attributed the loss to a mix of factors, saying, “Credit them first of all. They were ready to play and they did everything better than us from the jump tonight.”
He highlighted Minnesota’s physicality and defensive pressure as key reasons for the Thunder’s inability to score effectively in the paint, a stark contrast to their previous performances in the series.
“They were definitely throwing the first punch in the game. That had a lot to do with it. They were way more forceful on that end of the floor, and they’re way more forceful than we were physical on the other end,” Daigneault explained.
When asked why the Thunder struggled to cut into the large deficit, Daigneault said it was a combination of how both teams played, adding, “They were way better than us, obviously in every facet.”
Daigneault also pointed out that the Timberwolves disrupted the Thunder’s offensive rhythm, stating, “The looks, I just think we generated a lot more of a rhythm in the other games than we did tonight.”
Despite the tough loss, Daigneault expressed confidence that his team can bounce back, saying, “We know the ebbs and flows of a playoff series. … It’ll be 0-0 when game four starts.”
The coach praised Minnesota’s adjustment in defensive schemes, especially their different approach to guarding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “They did a good job tonight overall with their execution of the plan,” he said.
Daigneault also touched on the use of his bench players and adjustments in lineups, explaining his intent to “give a lot of guys opportunity to give you a spark” during a difficult game.
Regarding Anthony Edwards’ dominant performance, Daigneault acknowledged the difficulty in containing the Timberwolves star, saying, “Credit them for freeing him up, credit him for the energy and the force that he played with.”
The Thunder now face a crucial Game 4 in Minneapolis, where Daigneault hopes the team will apply lessons learned from this defeat to remain competitive in the series.
