OKC Thunder's Turnover Dominance Leading to Big-Stage Victories

The Oklahoma City Thunder has completed 13 playoff games since the middle of April — and forced more turnovers than it committed in 12 of them. Only the Denver Nuggets matched the assiduous Thunder, as each recorded 14 turnovers in Oklahoma City's crucial Game 4 second-round victory on May 11.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren combined for 86 points, 17 rebounds and 15 assists to lead the Thunder to a 118-103 Game 2 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. Oklahoma City now holds a 2-0 Western Conference Finals lead thanks to more lopsided turnover counts. The No. 1 seed tallied four fewer turnovers than Minnesota in the series opener and six fewer turnovers two nights later.

This two-way trend requires primary playmakers who maintain good ball security and a disruptive defense. Oklahoma City holds both at an absurd level. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, each with a usage rate above 24%, have averaged 3.1 turnovers in the playoffs after combining for 4.6 turnovers during the regular season. The Thunder has allowed a league-low 10.8 points off turnovers per game through three rounds.

More importantly, the Thunder thrives at wreaking havoc on the defensive end wherever, whenever and however possible. Alex Caruso, Williams, Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace and Luguentz Dort have each nabbed at least one steal per game, bringing consistent transition and semi-transition scoring opportunities for the team's speedy personnel. Oklahoma City has forced exactly 18.0 turnovers per game throughout the playoffs and scored a ridiculous 25.0 points off turnovers per game — 7.3 more than the No. 2 Cleveland Cavaliers.

The turnover battle is one of many areas where Oklahoma City's defense excels. In the playoffs, the Thunder has registered the lowest opponent effective field-goal percentage (47.6%), second-lowest opponent paint points per game (39.2), lowest opponent fast break points per game (9.1) ... and lowest defensive rating (101.2, 6.9 lower than No. 2 Boston Celtics). Still, there is no denying that its identity lies in maximizing possession volume.

"It's really about what level of discomfort we're able to put on the opponent," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "If that's inefficient shots, or long possessions, or making them work for everything, or a turnover — we don't really worry about what the outcome of those possessions are. We're just trying to make sure we're taking care of what we can control."

Oklahoma City will try to win its third game of the series in Minnesota's Target Center tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. CST.