logo
Photos: Best images from Thunder's 124-94 Game 5 win over Timberwolves

Photos: Best images from Thunder's 124-94 Game 5 win over Timberwolves

USA Today3 days ago

Photos: Best images from Thunder's 124-94 Game 5 win over Timberwolves
The Oklahoma City Thunder punched their ticket to the 2025 NBA Finals with a 124-94 Game 5 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. They won the Western Conference Finals in five games.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with an efficient 34 points. Jalen Williams helped out with 19 points and eight rebounds. Chet Holmgren tallied 22 points and seven rebounds.
Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards was quiet with 19 points and six rebounds. Julius Randle had 24 points. The Timberwolves trailed by as many as 39 points.
Let's look at some of the best photos from the Thunder's 30-point Game 5 win over the Timberwolves:

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Celebrities at Knicks-Pacers: Will Spike Lee attend Game 6 after McAfee rant?
Celebrities at Knicks-Pacers: Will Spike Lee attend Game 6 after McAfee rant?

USA Today

timean hour ago

  • USA Today

Celebrities at Knicks-Pacers: Will Spike Lee attend Game 6 after McAfee rant?

Celebrities at Knicks-Pacers: Will Spike Lee attend Game 6 after McAfee rant? Show Caption Hide Caption Shaq gives thoughts on a possible Pacers-Thunder 'small market' Finals Shaq joins Sports Seriously to give his thoughts on if a Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals would be too 'small market' for the league. Sports Seriously The Eastern Conference finals shifts back to Indianapolis for Game 6 on Saturday after the New York Knicks staved off elimination and defeated the Indiana Pacers 111-94 in Game 5 at home. Can the Knicks avoid elimination again and force Game 7 at Madison Square Garden? They will have numerous famous faces in the building that hope so. A contingent of Knicks superfans made the journey from New York to Indiana for Game 4, when the Pacers took a 3-1 series lead over the New York on Tuesday. To add insult to injury, Knicks fans Timothée Chalamet, Spike Lee and Ben Stiller received a less than warm welcome at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. ESPN personality and former Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee gave the trio a WWE style, expletive-filled lashing and encouraged Indiana fans to boo the stars. Hall of Fame singer-songwriter John Mellencamp was not a fan. (More on that below). The Indiana Fever are also home for the weekend ahead of their matchup against the Washington Mystics on Tuesday. Will Caitlin Clark make an appearance? (Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers were in the building for the Fever's opening night win over the Chicago Sky on May 17.) Will Lee, Stiller and Chalamet travel to Indiana again? Will Clark show up at Gainbridge Fieldhouse? We got you covered. USA TODAY Sports is tracking all the celebrities at Game 6 in Indianapolis: CELEBS IN NEW YORK: Spike Lee, Mariska Hargitay, more celebrate Knicks' Game 5 win vs. Pacers MORE: John Mellencamp 'embarrassed' by Pat McAfee calling out Knicks celebrities at Pacers game What time is Pacers vs. Knicks today? The Indiana Pacers will host the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Time: 8 p.m. ET 8 p.m. ET Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis) Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis) TV: TNT, truTV TNT, truTV Stream: Sling TV, Max Watch Knicks vs. Pacers Game 6 on Sling John Mellencamp not happy with Pat McAfee Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter and Indiana native John Mellencamp was not a fan of McAfee's rant. 'I was embarrassed when somebody, under whose direction I don't know, called out some of the people who had made the trip from New York to support their team — and in turn, support our team," Mellencamp wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "The audience booed these people. I'd say that was not Hoosier Hospitality. One could only say it's poor, poor sportsmanship. I was not proud to be a Hoosier, and I've lived here my entire life." Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals brought out a variety of celebrities to Madison Square Garden, ranging from Knicks legends (Patrick Ewing, Walt "Clyde" Frazier and Bill Bradley) to comedians (Tracy Morgan), actors (Timothée Chalamet, Susie Essman, Ben Stiller, Mariska Hargitay and Spike Lee), musicians (Shaboozey, Idina Menzel and Joey Badass) and world-class athletes (Michael Strahan, Kevin Love and Henrik Lundqvist). Check out the full star-studded Game 5 lineup here. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

2025 NBA mock drafts: Will Houston keep its ‘Mr. Irrelevant' pick — and who might it be?
2025 NBA mock drafts: Will Houston keep its ‘Mr. Irrelevant' pick — and who might it be?

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

2025 NBA mock drafts: Will Houston keep its ‘Mr. Irrelevant' pick — and who might it be?

Much of the fixation for the Houston Rockets is on their No. 10 overall draft pick in the NBA's 2025 first round, which takes place on June 25. Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis is among the more popular early projections. But they also have another selection in the second round on the following day, June 26. Advertisement Via Oklahoma City, the Rockets currently own the final pick in the 2025 second round at No. 59 overall. (There are usually 60 picks in each draft, with one initially slotted each of the league's 30 teams in both rounds, but the New York Knicks had their 2025 second-round selection voided for tampering.) Because the Thunder had the NBA's best record in the 2024-25 season, that means their pick is 'Mr. Irrelevant,' as the saying goes. While expectations are low out of that draft slot, it's not unprecedented for it to lead to a significant contributor. Isaiah Thomas was 'Mr. Irrelevant' in the 2011 draft, and he averaged 11.5 points (37.9% on 3-pointers) and 4.1 assists per game as a rookie before eventually becoming a two-time NBA All-Star. So, who might the Rockets take at No. 59 (assuming they keep the pick)? Here's a roundup of what the latest mock draft projections are currently showing. Advertisement Additional statistics and prospect information is available at Tankathon. Many prospects selected late in the second round tend to be either international (for stash purposes, since they can potentially play at least one more season overseas and not immediately take up an NBA roster spot) or of advanced age. Because younger collegiate prospects are often perceived to have more upside, they tend to go higher in the order. But in the event that an older player is selected, they might be more ready to contribute in the near future, since they have more experience playing at a high level in college. More: 2025 NBA mock drafts: Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis frequently linked to Rockets This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: 2025 NBA mock drafts: Will the Rockets keep the 'Mr. Irrelevant' pick?

Chet Holmgren reflects on 2012 Thunder and what they meant to his childhood
Chet Holmgren reflects on 2012 Thunder and what they meant to his childhood

USA Today

timean hour ago

  • USA Today

Chet Holmgren reflects on 2012 Thunder and what they meant to his childhood

Chet Holmgren reflects on 2012 Thunder and what they meant to his childhood 13 years is an eternity in the NBA. The frequent turnover on rosters and teams makes it nearly impossible for the same cast of characters to be at the same spot during that duration. The Oklahoma City Thunder are a textbook example, as the players who celebrated their 2025 NBA Finals berth are much different from those who celebrated the same achievement in 2012. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden have been recast as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. Still, lifelong Thunder fans see the similarities between both iterations. Both were young squads that stormed the league. After a much-needed two-day break, the Thunder returned to the practice facility as they prepare for the 2025 NBA Finals. Chet Holmgren talked to media. After missing three months with a hip fracture that broke his season into two halves, the 23-year-old has played better the deeper the Thunder gets into the playoffs. After OKC clinched an NBA Finals spot, several former players chimed in on social media to congratulate the franchise. Reflecting on the last time the Thunder made the NBA Finals, Holmgren fondly remembers his childhood. Durant's and Westbrook's superstar dynamics put OKC on the national map. The All-Star duo headlined a title contender throughout the 2010s. It shouldn't be a shocker to learn that Holmgren's childhood peers were Thunder fans. They were the mainstream team to pick that rivaled old-school classics like the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. 'It's hard not to think when I was a kid and starting in AAU and late elementary school, all the kids on the team and on the other team were on the OKC bandwagon back then," Holmgren said. "It was the youth's bandwagon.' Fast forward a decade, Holmgren now represents the Thunder. He's developed a relationship with a fellow lanky seven-footer in Durant. Both have spoken glowingly about each other and have spent summer workouts in the same gyms. As Holmgren plays his first NBA Finals, he has a plethora of NBA veterans have can go to for advice. While he kept his cards close to his vest, you can read between the lines that he likely reached out to Durant in these last couple of days. 'I'll say my private conversations are my private conversations," Holmgren said with a smile. Thunder fans might have a toxic relationship with Durant, but that doesn't mean the players have to. If you can go to someone like him for advice, you definitely should do it. Nothing wrong with receiving words of encouragement from one of the greatest players ever.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store