Game 2 of the Wolves–Thunder series saw sparks flare as Wolves forward Jaden McDaniels shoved OKC’s guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the floor in the fourth quarter and was subsequently given a flagrant 1 foul for it.
While discussing the play during the postgame press conference, the forward admitted to doing so intentionally. He said:
“I just wanted to foul him for real. I wasn’t even mad. I just had fouls to use.”
McDaniels claims that he intended to foul Gilgeous-Alexander, given the number of fouls he had available at his disposal. But it is quite evident that there is some degree of frustration.
Dawg Jaden McDaniels is SICK OF SGA foul baiting LMFAOOO
Just pushed him down 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/fqRHezjTS1
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) May 23, 2025
The foul itself is not something that is out of the ordinary for the forward. But the execution may be attributed to an accumulation of several events.
At the time, the Wolves were trailing by 16 points in a game that should have been a lot more competitive. The Thunder star had dominated against Minnesota, showcasing his status as the league’s MVP as well.
McDaniels, who has drawn upon the task of being the primary defender on Gilgeous-Alexander, has been restricted and pressured to play very tentative defense. This can be owed to the Thunder’s stars’ innate ability to draw fouls and get to the free-throw line.
Needless to say, having an opposing player single-handedly dismantle one’s team is disrespectful enough to a defender. But being forced to defend with one’s hands tied behind their back makes for an even more frustrating situation.
McDaniels eventually found himself on the verge of exiting the game with five fouls attributed to him. As more complaints arise about Gilgeous-Alexander’s on-court antics, the Timberwolves’ tensions continue to build as they struggle to find answers for it.
The Thunder star eventually led his team to a dominant 118-103 win on Thursday night with a game-high 38 points. He also made 15 trips to the free-throw line, sinking 13 in the process.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves saw a rather limited contribution from their roster. Wolves star Anthony Edwards individually shone with 32 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, while shooting 12-26 from the field. His effort was mildly supported by McDaniels, who had 22 points on the night.
Wolves forward Julius Randle, who has been a game-changing element for the team throughout their postseason run, was nowhere to be seen in Game 2. After recording six points in 32 minutes, the forward found himself on the bench for the entirety of the fourth quarter.
Minnesota had an abysmal shooting night from beyond the arc as they went 11-39 as a team. This was exacerbated by their shortcomings in maintaining possession, as they turned the ball over a total of 14 times.
The loss in Game 2 could spell catastrophe for the Wolves as they head home to the Target Center for Games 3 and 4. The team seems to have been found out, and if they do not come up with a strategy to secure a win on Saturday night, the team could see an embarrassing end to their postseason run.
