Shai Gilgeous-Alexander soars as Thunder stroll into second NBA finals | NBA
Oklahoma city Thunder Advance to NBA Finals After Dominating Timberwolves
Updated May 29, 2025
The Oklahoma City Thunder are heading to the NBA finals for the first time as 2012 after a decisive 124-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 34 points,securing a 4-1 series win in the Western Conference finals.
Despite the excitement surrounding the Thunder’s Western Conference championship, Gilgeous-Alexander remained focused. He emphasized the team’s need for continued growth to achieve thier ultimate goal of winning the NBA championship. Oklahoma City now awaits the winner of the Eastern Conference finals between the Indiana Pacers and the new York Knicks.
Chet Holmgren contributed 22 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks, while Jalen Williams added 19 points and eight rebounds for Oklahoma City. The thunder’s dominant performance included a strong start,leading 26-9 at the end of the first quarter,setting the tone for the rest of the game.
Minnesota struggled, with Julius Randle scoring 24 points and Anthony Edwards adding 19. The Timberwolves shot just 41.2% from the field and committed 21 turnovers, hindering their chances of mounting a comeback.
The Thunder’s journey to the NBA Finals marks a significant turnaround for a fanbase that endured Kevin Durant’s departure and a recent rebuild. With 5:14 remaining and a cozy 108-74 lead, the Thunder’s starters were pulled, allowing fans to celebrate the Western Conference championship.
“We’ve got a lot of growing to do,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do to get to our ultimate goal, and this is not it, so that’s all that I’m focused on.”
Even amidst the festivity, coach Mark Daigneault humorously acknowledged his players’ antics during a postgame interview, calling them “idiots” as they playfully draped towels over him, a tradition usually reserved for a local sideline reporter.
“We just struggled to find a rhythm,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “everyone was kind of trying to do it all by themselves. We lost our connectivity. But all credit to the Thunder.They certainly deserve this. They played outstanding. And we came up short in a lot of ways.”
What’s next
The Oklahoma city Thunder now prepare for the NBA Finals, awaiting the winner of the Eastern Conference series between the Indiana Pacers and the New york Knicks. The Thunder aim to continue their growth and pursue their ultimate goal of winning an NBA championship.