Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals was already a war in the trenches—then Doris Burke turned it into a world history class. As Rudy Gobert (French) and Isaiah Hartenstein (German-born) banged bodies for post position, the paint battle suddenly felt like a reenactment of the Treaty of Versailles—only with fewer diplomats and a lot more elbows.

Then came the moment: with 9:30 left in the third, Gobert caught a pocket pass and detonated a left-handed dunk right on Hartenstein’s chest. French firepower in full effect.

“I don’t know much about history, but I know the French and German don’t like one another,” Burke quipped, perfectly capturing the tension on the court.

Now Doris Burke’s line hit harder than the actual poster. Rudy Gobert’s jam closed the gap to 66–68 and briefly flipped the momentum. But OKC didn’t flinch—they answered like a Panzer division on a counterattack. The Wolves followed that dunk with three straight empty trips, and the Thunder pounced.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who looked like a diplomat but led like a general, dropped 8 of his 40 points in that stretch. Jalen Williams added 34, and OKC ended the third up 90–85.

Doris Burke, meanwhile, is quietly putting up a legendary run of her own. Earlier in the series, she dubbed Shai a “free throw merchant”—this latest history lesson might’ve just cemented her as the postseason’s breakout voice.

Final score: Thunder 128, Timberwolves 126. Oklahoma City takes a 3–1 series lead, one win away from their first Finals trip since 2012. And Game 4? Forever remembered as the night the paint became a battlefield and the mic became a time machine.

Minnesota’s Last Stand: Can the Wolves Howl Back or Is It Game Over?

The Wolves are staring down the barrel of elimination. You can almost hear the clock ticking louder with every possession. Anthony Edwards, usually the engine driving Minnesota’s offense, just couldn’t find his groove in Game 4. He managed only 16 points on shaky shooting — 5-of-13 overall and a brutal 1-of-7 from deep. If the Wolves want to live another day, Edwards has to shake off that rough night. He needs to bring back the aggressive scoring punch that’s carried this team all season.

But it’s not all on Edwards. Minnesota turned the ball over 21 times. Edwards wasn’t the only culprit; Julius Randle gave the Thunder five freebies himself. In a tight playoff war, those giveaways are like handing the opponent an open lane to the rim. The good news? The bench showed some fire. Nickeil Alexander-Walker caught fire, dropping 23 points and raining down five threes. Donte DiVincenzo chipped in 21 to keep Minnesota’s hopes alive.

Down low, the paint was a battlefield. Rudy Gobert was impossible to ignore — pulling down nine boards, swatting three shots, and scoring efficiently at over 60%. That dunk he threw down on Isaiah Hartenstein? Pure thunder. For a moment, it looked like Minnesota might steal some momentum back. Hartenstein gave it his all too — snagging six boards, dishing out a couple assists and steals, and hitting his only shot. But Gobert’s experience and steady presence just outmuscled him.

Now, all eyes are on Coach Chris Finch and the Wolves to tighten the screws. They have to hold onto the ball and find a way to slow down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and this confident, relentless Thunder squad. OKC’s young core is calm under fire. Minnesota faces a real do-or-die moment.

Game 5 isn’t just another night on the calendar. It’s the Wolves’ last shot to howl back and force a Game 6 at home. Or will the Thunder’s home court magic shut the door on Minnesota’s playoff dreams? This is the kind of moment where legends are made… or forgotten.