Gilgeous-Alexander Leads Thunder Past Timberwolves to NBA Finals
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (#2) of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates with teammates after being named Western Conference Finals MVP, following a commanding 124-94 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
Washington (AFP) – Powered by a 34-point performance from league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder cruised past the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday to clinch a 4-1 series victory and return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012.
Gilgeous-Alexander also tallied eight assists and seven rebounds in the blowout win, securing series MVP honors. The Thunder will host Game 1 of the Finals on June 5, where they’ll face either the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks, the Eastern Conference champions.
https://x.com/okcthunder
“This is a step forward, but we’re not satisfied yet. We’ve got more to prove and work to do,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “This isn’t the end goal.”
The 26-year-old Canadian could make history as the first scoring champion since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 to win a title in the same season.
Chet Holmgren chipped in with 22 points, and Jalen Williams added 19 for Oklahoma City, the youngest team to reach the Finals since the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers, with an average age of just 25.6.
“We’ve got 17 guys who bring intensity every game,” said Holmgren. “This is just part of the journey. We’re not done yet.”
Williams reflected on the team’s growth through the season: “The ups and downs made us stronger. We’ve built a bond that’s taken us to this point.”
https://x.com/okcthunder
Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 24 points, while Anthony Edwards added 19. The franchise, which has never made it to the Finals, struggled from the outset.
“They came ready, and we didn’t,” Edwards admitted. “They set the tone from the tip and dominated.”
Oklahoma City is seeking its first championship since the franchise relocated from Seattle in 2008. The Thunder last reached the Finals in 2012, falling to the Miami Heat. This season, they held the NBA’s best regular-season record at 68-14.
“These guys are special,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. “They’re professional, competitive, and selfless. Above all, they play as a team.”
The Thunder seized control early, leading 26-9 after the first quarter—Minnesota’s lowest scoring quarter of the season—and never looked back. The Timberwolves shot just 3-for-20 in the opening frame and committed four turnovers.
By halftime, the Thunder had built a 65-32 lead, fueled by Minnesota’s 14 first-half turnovers and poor shooting.
“We were overwhelmed from the start,” said Timberwolves coach Chris Finch. “This one hurts.”
Despite trimming the deficit slightly in the second half, Minnesota never mounted a serious comeback, falling to the superior team on the night.
“This stings,” said veteran guard Mike Conley. “It’s going to take some time to process what went wrong.”
Leave a Comment