Wolves take on challenge of defending SGA, and keeping him off the free-throw line

"His foul draw rate has remained pretty constant," Finch told reporters on Monday. "I do think there's been more physicality allowed in the playoffs. I would hope that continues and we're allowed to be physical in some of these drives as long as we're being smart. But he's a very clever foul drawer. It takes a lot of concentration and toughness to be able to kind of play through some of that stuff, but it's just a part of what you've got to do."

Minnesota's results defending Gilgeous-Alexander this season were mixed. The teams split the regular-season series at two games apiece, and he averaged the 35 points on 51% shooting in addition to posting 7.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game. But there were bright spots. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 points on just 6-for-21 shooting in a Minnesota win on Feb. 13 — a night the Timberwolves were without Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.

Finch noted the two teams rosters haven't changed since their regular-season matchups, which wasn't the case in their first two series against the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, but the regular-season sample size still might not show much. In their first matchup on New Year's Eve, the Thunder were without Chet Holmgren. In their next three, the Wolves were down Randle, Gobert and DiVincenzo due to injury. Both teams appear fully healthy heading into this series.

But the Wolves being so heavily short-handed against the Thunder in the regular season may have shown them something. Jaylen Clark started the final three games against OKC and was one of the primary defenders on Gilgeous-Alexander, who shot just 29% from the field when defended by Clark. Finch largely hasn't strayed beyond the top eight in his rotation, but Terrence Shannon Jr. got a few minutes against the Lakers, and this could be series Clark sees action.

Either way, the Wolves will have Randle and Gobert back as rim protectors, with DiVincenzo as another option as a point-of-attack defender off the bench. It'll take everything to slow down Gilgeous-Alexander, the likely MVP, and navigating the frustrations of him getting to the free-throw line is only part of the challenge. The Wolves have to throw the house at him.

"Obviously, an incredible player," Finch said of Gilgeous-Alexander. "... He gets to the free-throw line a lot. Like all great players, you have to give him a multitude of looks. Try to keep him off balance. Try to limit his ability to settle into a rhythm. We've got — one thing we do have now that we didn't necessarily have a lot of in those matchups is more size at the rim with Rudy and Julius. It does continue to give us more options in guarding him."

Slowing Gilgeous-Alexander down and keeping him off the free-throw line might be the key to reaching the NBA Finals.

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