This isn’t a “Redemption Tour.” It’s more like the part in a movie where the hero shows up late, calm, and slightly annoyed—and everyone realizes the fight’s already over. So, is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the freshly crowned MVP, playing tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is not listed on any injury report, which likely confirms his presence in Game 2. And that MVP trophy? That was step one. Step two? Rubbing the Larry O’Brien trophy in the face of every hater, yelling “free-throw merchant.” So far, the numbers still tell the truth: The 26-year-old is averaging 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists with 51.9 FG%.

Here’s the thing—what Shai’s doing isn’t just MVP-worthy. It’s historically rare. There are only three players in NBA history to average 30+ points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.5 steals, 1 block, and shoot over 50% from the field for a full season:
Michael Jordan (1987–88), Michael Jordan (1990–91), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2024–25).

And look, let’s not sugarcoat it—114–88 wasn’t a game. It was a message, wrapped in a blowout, signed by the MVP himself. Gilgeous-Alexander started the night like a guy still adjusting his crown. He shot 2-for-13 early, giving Chris Finch and the Wolves a flicker of false hope. Minnesota led by four. For a second, it looked like they had at least part of the cheat code. But then that flicker? It died fast.

Because in the second half, Shai flipped the switch. He came out like someone had whispered “overrated” in his ear. He torched the Wolves for 20 points in the final two quarters, finishing with 31. On top of that, he added 9 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. He wasn’t just scoring; he was controlling the tempo. Shai dissected the help defense, hit floaters and pull-ups, and fired skip passes like he was watching the game at 0.5x speed.

By the time OKC flipped the script, the Wolves looked like they were playing intramural dodgeball. Shai? He played playoff chess. And Minnesota? Yeah, they better activate their Wayne-level contingency plan. Because here’s the bad news: OKC’s entire rotation is locked in. No injury asterisks, no precautionary DNPs, no “game-time decisions” left to pray on.

This isn’t just Shai and vibes. This is a 10-man orchestra. And they’re all playing with range, rhythm, and revenge on the playlist.

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Depth Chart vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

Bringing the same momentum as Game 1. A full-court masterclass in defensive chaos, third-quarter haymakers, and a roster so deep you start wondering if Sam Presti’s drafting interns also deserve credit. Here’s how OKC stacks up positionally:

From the jump, OKC’s defense hunted. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lugentz Dort, and Jalen Williams weren’t just guarding—they were stealing lunch money in Game 1. Ten combined steals. Nineteen forced turnovers. Thirty-one points off them. That’s a system eating its prey.

At halftime, Minnesota thought they had it figured out. Then, OKC hit the gas. Thunder went 10-0 run in the third quarter. Jalen Williams chipped in 19 pts, 5 assists, and 8 rebounds, Alex Caruso (9 pts and 3 reb) steadied the ship, and Chet Holmgren (15-3-7) locked down the paint. The Wolves shot only 6-of-19 in the third, and that was OKC solving them in real time.

Anthony Edwards? 18 points. Julius Randle? Twenty in the first half, ghosted in the second. OKC didn’t slow them down—they shut the door. Rotations were tight, physicality was constant, and the Wolves seemed to like that they had no Plan B.

If Game 1 was any indicator, Minnesota needs more than a game plan—they need reinforcements. Because OKC doesn’t just win with talent. They win with trust, tempo, and tenacity. And right now? All three are peaking.