Oklahoma City Thunder Advances to the Western Conference Finals
The Oklahoma City Thunder team demonstrated its growth this Sunday.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led with 35 points, while Jalen Williams added 24, leading the Thunder to the Western Conference Finals after defeating the Denver Nuggets with a score of 125-93 in game seven.
The team, which was positioned as the best seed, will face the Minnesota Timberwolves, who finished in sixth place, starting on Tuesday. This is the first time Oklahoma City has reached the conference finals since 2016.
During the regular season, Oklahoma City performed outstandingly with a record of 68-14, becoming the youngest team to win at least 60 games. To validate their position as the best team in the league, the Thunder had to overcome Nikola Jokic, three-time MVP, and the Denver Nuggets, who won the NBA title in 2023 and defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in seven games in this year’s first round.
There are few games where you wake up in the morning and know you’ll remember the game for the rest of your life, and Game 7 is one of them. To be able to focus and perform like these guys did today was very impressive.
Mark Daigneault, Thunder Coach
In Game 7, the Thunder improved in areas where they had struggled during the series, such as finishing at the rim. They made 27 layups and dunks on Sunday, tying for the second-most for any team in a game this postseason, according to GeniusIQ.
Oklahoma City also found success against Denver’s zone defense, scoring 1.00 points per play in Game 7, after averaging just 0.91 in Games 1-6.
Although they started the first quarter with an 11-point deficit, they took the lead at the beginning of the second. Oklahoma City outscored Denver 39-20 in that period, achieving a 60-46 lead at halftime.
Aaron Gordon, playing through a hamstring strain, was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul for hitting Gilgeous-Alexander in the face early in the third quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander made both free throws, and then Williams hit a jump shot to give Oklahoma City a 66-46 lead.
Cason Wallace dunked over Jokic, which caused a great celebration among the fans.
From there, Oklahoma City controlled the game and now hopes to take another step forward.
We are better now than we were at the beginning of the series, and it’s thanks to them. They pushed us to the limit.
Mark Daigneault, Thunder Coach
Oklahoma City was established as the favorite with -400 in the betting for the Western Conference Finals.
