Oklahoma City routs the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-94 to advance to the NBA Finals. The game was never in question about the halfway point of the first quarter. Oklahoma City jumped to a 17-point lead in the first quarter, when the Thunder held the Timberwolves to only nine points. They became the second-youngest team (average age of 25.6 years old) to advance to the Finals. Only the 1976-1977 championship Portland Trailblazers teams were younger. The Thunder had a 65-32 halftime lead after the Timberwolves had more turnovers (14) than made field goals (12). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 34 points and assists while taking home Western Conference Finals MVP. Gilgeous-Alexander is the first player to earn a trip to the Finals in the same season he won MVP since Stephen Curry in 2015-16.

This marked the Thunder’s fourth win by a margin of at least 30 points during this playoff run, the most by any team in a single postseason. Minnesota was initially my pick to advance from the Western Conference Finals. Oklahoma City will wait to see who they play in the NBA Finals between Indiana and New York. The Pacers hold a 3-1 lead over the Knicks with Game 5 being in New York tonight.

Please follow and like us: