Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault acknowledged Minnesota’s early shooting as a major factor in Thursday’s 123-111 loss at Target Center. “It’s always a combination. I thought they made some tough ones tonight, especially in the second half,” he said, noting lapses in defensive schemes that allowed open looks.
Daigneault highlighted Anthony Edwards’ early impact. “Edwards got a lot of loose change in the first quarter that got him going,” he said, adding that those opportunities set the Timberwolves’ pace for the game.
The coach pointed to turnovers as a critical issue. “We fought a lot of pressure, especially early. We were trying to do too much with the dribble up the floor. The live-ball turnovers were obviously a huge issue—22 points off those in the first half alone and 30 for the game.”
On Isaiah Hartenstein’s return from a 16-game absence, Daigneault praised his readiness. “Never going to evaluate the performance when somebody’s been out that long, but his performance was pretty good. He made his free throws and seemed to be right back in a rhythm,” he said.
Daigneault recognized Jaden McDaniels as a key factor on both ends. “He carries a huge load defensively and burned us on a lot of plays. Some of his threes in the third quarter were tough shots—you’ve got to tip your hat to him.” McDaniels finished 5-of-5 from three-point range for 21 points.
The coach also addressed the Thunder’s defensive effort. “To start the game, they were just the aggressor on both ends of the floor. We played the entire game from behind because of the way we started. We need to be a better 48-minute team that starts in the first minute.”
Daigneault noted positives despite the loss, including Hartenstein’s conditioning and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 30-point performance. “It’s great to get him back in the fold,” he said of Hartenstein.
Oklahoma City converted strong points in the paint and assists but could not overcome Minnesota’s 46.8% shooting from deep. The Timberwolves improved to 30-19 with three straight wins, while the Thunder fall to 38-11. Oklahoma City will face Denver on Sunday, with Minnesota hosting Memphis on Saturday.
