Oklahoma City Thunder secures its spot in the NBA Finals after defeating the Timberwolves.
The path to the NBA Finals was clear for the Thunder, and they didn’t disappoint. With a dominant performance, the Oklahoma City team sealed their ticket by facing the Timberwolves on Wednesday night, achieving a resounding victory with a score of 124-94 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.This victory not only secures them a place in the final, but also makes them the second youngest team to reach this stage, with an average age of 25.6 years, surpassed only by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1976-77 championship season.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault highlighted the team’s concentration, stating that this was the key to their success. “They were focused, and that allowed us to give our best,” he commented.
The first half of the game was a clear example of the Thunder’s dominance, who established a 17-point lead in the first quarter, limiting the Timberwolves to only nine points. This was the fewest points scored by Minnesota in a quarter during the season and in playoff history.
At the end of the first half, the scoreboard reflected a 65-32 lead for Oklahoma City, with the Timberwolves accumulating more turnovers (14) than made baskets (12). The relentless defense of the Thunder, which led the league in the regular season, was fundamental to this performance.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named MVP of the Western Conference Finals, led the attack with 34 points and eight assists. Chet Holmgren added 22 points, while Jalen Williams contributed 19 points.We almost feel like we did everything we needed to do. We made life difficult for the players we needed to. We were running perfectly in terms of their tendencies, our game plan, and how we wanted to impact the game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The second half turned into a celebration, as Minnesota failed to get close on the scoreboard.It’s great to feel like we left nothing on the court.
Chet Holmgren
This victory marks the fourth time the Thunder have won by at least 30 points in these playoffs, the most for any team in a single postseason.
The Thunder now await the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals, where the Pacers lead 3-1 over the Knicks.Despite the joy of winning the Western Conference championship, the Thunder are already looking ahead to the Finals.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the first player to reach the Finals in the same season he won the MVP since Stephen Curry in 2015-16, emphasized the importance of continuing to improve. “We are one step closer to our goal, and we are happy about that. But there are still four very difficult games to win. We need to be the best version of ourselves to reach the ultimate goal,” he concluded.Obviously, we are happy for the moment, but this is not our goal. It’s not the end of the road. There’s only one more series to play.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
