Oklahoma City Thunder Beat Minnesota Timberwolves To Book Spot In NBA Finals

Last Updated:May 29, 2025, 10:28 IST

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander starred as Oklahoma City defeated Minnesota Timberwolves 124-94 to book their place in the NBA Finals.

NBA: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander helped Oklahoma City beat Minnesota Timberwolves (AP)

Oklahoma City, led by 34 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012 by defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-94 on Wednesday.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA Most Valuable Player, also contributed eight assists and seven rebounds as the Thunder claimed the best-of-seven Western Conference finals series 4-1. They will host game one of the NBA Finals on June 5.

“This is a step in the right direction, but we have a lot more work to do, and that’s what we’re focused on. Let’s buckle up and get ready," said Gilgeous-Alexander. “We’ve got a lot of work to do to reach our ultimate goal, and this is not it. That’s all that I’m focused on."

Oklahoma City will compete against the Eastern Conference champion, either the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks, for the NBA title.

Gilgeous-Alexander, a 26-year-old Canadian who was named series MVP, could become the first NBA scoring champion since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 to win an NBA title in the same season.

Chet Holmgren added 22 points, and Jalen Williams scored 19 for the Thunder, whose average age of 25.6 years makes them the youngest team in the NBA Finals since Portland in 1977.

“We have 17 players on the roster who give their all every single game, whether it’s a closeout game or not," Holmgren said. “It’s a step in the journey. We still have the Finals to play, so we’re not done."

Williams expressed pride in how the players have come together as a team. “We’ve been through ups and downs all season, and that has only brought us closer. We’ve been able to bond and improve, and that’s why we’re here now," he said. “We’ve still got a job to do, but it’s very exciting."

Julius Randle led Minnesota with 24 points, while Anthony Edwards added 19 for the Timberwolves, who have never reached the NBA Finals. “They came ready to play. We didn’t," Edwards said. “They dominated the game from the start."

Oklahoma City has never won an NBA title, although the franchise won a championship as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979 before relocating in 2008. The Thunder last reached the finals in 2012, losing to Miami.

The Thunder had the best record in the NBA this season at 68-14.

“These guys are exceptional," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “They do everything right. They are professional, high character, competitive, and most importantly, team-first."

From the start, Oklahoma City overpowered Minnesota in a decisive fashion, as the visitors struggled in a crucial game. “We kept our foot on the gas for 48 minutes," Daigneault said. “The tone we set in the game was excellent from the beginning."

“We were beaten by the better team," Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “This hurts."

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 12 points in the first quarter as the Thunder took a 26-9 lead, holding the Timberwolves to their lowest points total in any quarter all season. “They came out and punched us," Minnesota’s Mike Conley said.

Minnesota shot 3-for-20 in the first quarter, including 1-of-9 from three-point range, and committed four turnovers. They missed 10 of their first 11 shots as Oklahoma City jumped ahead 11-3 and then closed the quarter on a 13-2 run.

The Thunder surged to a 48-20 advantage early in the second quarter, leading 65-32 at halftime as Minnesota committed a season-high 14 first-half turnovers while making only 12 baskets. The Timberwolves trailed by as many as 37 points before reducing the deficit to 88-62 after three quarters, but they never threatened the Thunder’s dominant performance.

“It hurts," Conley said. “For me, it’s going to take a while to understand what we failed to do."

(With inputs from AFP)

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News sports Oklahoma City Thunder Beat Minnesota Timberwolves To Book Spot In NBA Finals