Kenrich Williams collected dust in the first two rounds of the playoffs, waiting for his moment. The new playoff series means new role players can be a major game. The 30-year-old enjoyed a good match and Mark Daigneault looked like a genius.

Williams scored eight points on three shooting percentages and three rebounds. He shot 2 from 3. He played 10 minutes on the bench and committed 3 fouls, but they were big 10 minutes.

The Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the second half of their first game 114-88 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Leading the series with a 1-0 series, the Western Conference Finals can be opened.

As the NBA playoffs dropped to four teams, the Thunder’s depth bent them. Perhaps the Timberwolves are the ideal opponents to use Williams to consider their three frontcourt monsters, Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle and Naz Reid. You need all the players you can fight against them.

"First of all, he hasn't performed well in a single game since the last game of the regular season. That was five weeks ago. It's invisible to have himself in the playoffs, in the Western Conference Finals like him and perform according to his performance," said Daigneault. "It's incredible consistency, professionalism, spiritual resilience. All of these things. I really believe that when they see a person not playing, it will be energized for the team. He was a huge contributor to us during the season and he didn’t really play the first two series. He just put his head down every day and stays in his form and is ready.

Williams' work ethics has been resonating with his teammates in the backstage. Especially with Chet Holmgren. The locker room leader famously encouraged seven-foot words after losing in the last series of first games against the Nuggets. He certainly was happy to see him fighting the Timberwolves in the sun.

"I watched K appear every day, no matter what the situation or what happened in the game. He showed up and achieved it," Homegren said of Williams. "When I saw someone doing it, I knew they were always ready. I knew the coach was looking at it the same way. That's why when he felt like he was like this, I didn't think Mark was hesitant to call his name."