Everybody got to see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander orchestrate his foul-baiting tricks, but nobody tried putting a stop to it. Until Jaden McDaniels handed him a hard shove to the ground.
In Game 2, Shai scored 38 points, helping lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a decisive 118-103 victory and securing a 2-0 series lead.
During the game, tensions escalated when Timberwolves forward got a little too frustrated with Gilgeous-Alexander’s skillful play. Agitated with his foul-baiting, McDaniels committed a Flagrant 1 foul as he shoved him to the ground.
McDaniels claimed he was simply trying to commit a foul and wasn’t even angry.
“I just wanted to foul him for real. I wasn’t even mad. I just had fouls to use,” McDaniels said.
Jaden McDaniels on shoving SGA
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) May 23, 2025
"I just wanted to foul him for real” 😭😭😭
pic.twitter.com/wN5DNbOOTT
This frustration isn’t new for the Timberwolves. Earlier in the series, Anthony Edwards was assessed a technical foul after throwing the ball at Gilgeous-Alexander.
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The Timberwolves have struggled to contain Gilgeous-Alexander due to his ability to draw fouls. Edwards previously acknowledged the difficulty of defending him. He noted that the numerous fouls called against them made it particularly hard to compete.
Jaden McDaniels Has High Hopes From Minnesota
The Timberwolves have faced a tough start to their playoff series. They lost their first two games with an average margin of 20.5 points, which is far from what their fans expected.
However, there have been glimpses of hope, particularly with Anthony Edwards showing his peak form in Game 2.
Jaden McDaniels expressed that the team needs to adopt a more confident and aggressive approach. He emphasized the importance of shooting without hesitation and treating every possession as critical to their success.
“I’ll say it’s just poor shooting nights. They’re kinda short, closing a little bit, so we just gotta not think twice, and let it fly really. Be confident in what we can do. We gotta be desperate like every possession matters. Like every game, everything matters… Just gotta play smarter than what we are,” McDaniels said.
He noted that the team needs to play smarter and with a sense of urgency to turn their performance around.
On the other hand, Julius Randle struggled significantly while scoring only six points and not playing in the fourth quarter of Game 2.
Coach Chris Finch has to focus on strategies for the team to improve, especially as they move to their home games.
Also Read: VIDEO: Jaden McDaniels Brutally Calls Out Luka Doncic For Flopping During Intense Game 4 Moment
