The Oklahoma City Thunder are officially heading back to the NBA Finals, and they did it in commanding fashion. With a 124-94 blowout victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, the Thunder closed the series 4-1 and punched their ticket to the biggest stage in basketball.
From the opening tip, Oklahoma City was locked in. The Thunder stormed to a 26-9 first-quarter lead, completely stifling the Timberwolves on both ends of the floor. Minnesota struggled to generate any rhythm offensively, shooting just 15% in the first quarter and 32% in the first half. By halftime, the Thunder had forced 14 turnovers—more than the Timberwolves' made field goals at that point.
At the heart of the dominance was none other than Kia NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who delivered yet another all-around masterclass. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 34 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals, wrapping up a sensational series in which he averaged 31.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game. His leadership and consistency earned him the Western Conference Finals MVP, a testament to his impact on this young and fearless OKC team.
Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren once again played pivotal roles. Williams provided explosive scoring and defensive presence throughout the series, while Holmgren added shot-blocking and floor-spacing to OKC’s dynamic attack.
This series wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. Outside of a narrow Game 3 loss, the Thunder demonstrated versatility and depth. They showcased their ability to blow teams out, as seen in Games 1 and 5, and grind out close victories, such as their 128-126 clutch win in Game 4 on the road.
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