Oklahoma City stormed into its first NBA Finals since 2012, driving a 34-point masterclass from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to a dominant 124-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.
The newly topped NBA MVP added eight assists and 7 rebounds, sealing a 4-1 win within the Western Conference finals. The Thunder will host Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 5.
“This is a step in the right direction, but we’ve got a lot more work to do,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “We know that – and that’s where our focus is. So let’s buckle up.”
The 26-year-old Canadian, named collection MVP, might grow to be the primary NBA scoring champion to win a title in the identical season since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000.
Awaiting Oklahoma City within the Finals is the Eastern Conference champion – both the Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks.
Chet Holmgren added 22 factors and Jalen Williams scored 19 for the Thunder, whose common age of 25.6 years makes them the youngest crew to achieve the NBA Finals since Portland in 1977.
“We have 17 dudes on the roster who will bring it every single game, whether it’s a closeout game or not,” Holmgren stated.
“It’s a step in the journey. We still have a season to play – so we’re not done.”
Williams stated he was happy with the way in which the gamers have come collectively.
“We’ve been through ups and downs this entire season, and that has only brought us closer,” he stated. “We’ve been in a position to bond and get higher, and that’s why we’re right here now.
“We’ve still got a job to do, but it’s very exciting.”
Julius Randle led Minnesota with 24 factors, whereas Anthony Edwards added 19 for the Timberwolves, who’ve by no means reached the NBA Finals.
“They came ready to play. We didn’t,” Edwards stated. “They dominated the game from the tip.”
Oklahoma City has by no means received an NBA title, although the franchise claimed a championship because the Seattle TremendousSonics in 1979 earlier than relocating in 2008. The Thunder final reached the Finals in 2012, dropping to Miami.
Oklahoma City had the perfect file within the NBA this season at 68-14.
“These guys are uncommon,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated. “They do everything right. They are professional. They are high character. They are competitive. And most of all, they are team-first.”
‘This hurts’
From the beginning, Oklahoma City overpowered Minnesota in epic style, because the guests delivered a nightmare efficiency when it mattered most.
“We kept our foot on the gas for 48 minutes,” Daigneault stated. “The tone we set in the game was really good from the jump.”
“We were beat by the better team,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch stated. “This hurts.”
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 12 factors within the first quarter because the Thunder jumped to a 26-9 lead, holding the Timberwolves to their lowest level whole in any quarter this season.
“They came out and punched us,” Minnesota’s Mike Conley stated.
The Timberwolves shot 3-for-20 within the first quarter – together with 1-for-9 from 3-point vary – and dedicated 4 turnovers.
Minnesota missed 10 of its first 11 pictures as Oklahoma City jumped forward 11-3, then closed the quarter on a 13-2 run.
The Thunder surged to a 48-20 benefit early within the second quarter and held a 65-32 halftime lead. Minnesota dedicated a season-high 14 turnovers within the first half whereas making solely 12 baskets.
The Timberwolves trailed by as many as 37 factors earlier than reducing the deficit to 88-62 after three quarters, however by no means critically threatened the Thunder’s dominance.
“It hurts,” Conley stated. “For me, it’s going to take a while to dissect what we weren’t able to do.”
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