Playoff Growth Powers OKC Thunder To NBA Finals
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 28: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates ... More with teammates after winning the Western Conference Finals MVP after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-94 in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 28, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by)
For the first time since 2012, the Oklahoma City Thunder is headed back to the NBA Finals. Playing in front of a home crowd up 3-1 in the Western Conference Finals, the Thunder took care of business and dominated Game 5 with a 30-point victory. While the Minnesota Timberwolves had every reason to come out and play desperate, Oklahoma City threw the first punch and never looked back. The Thunder wanted it more and took it from Minnesota, going up by nearly 20 points in the first quarter.
It's been a phenomenal playoff run for OKC, but not one without some adversity. Although the Thunder swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, the Denver Nuggets took the series to Game 7 against Oklahoma City in the second round. That was a series for growth, as the Thunder showed tangible development as a team throughout those seven games. Much was learned, and by the time the biggest moment was presented in Game 7, the Thunder blew the Nuggets out.
That's been the story of the playoffs thus far, as Oklahoma City showed its youth early but now looks poised to win it all. The team that was struggling in late-game situations just a few weeks ago has now emerged as a team ready for the moment. That's important for the longer-term success of this franchise, but given how rapidly growth has occurred, it will also be key in the NBA Finals.
While this Thunder team is the youngest in nearly 50 years to make the NBA Finals, it feels different than the last time that was the case in 2012. The team, headlined by Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, had its flaws. That group still felt a year early in some ways when it fell to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.
But this group? It's still a young team, but it's headlined by a 26-year-old MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and is bolstered by more veteran players. Most notably, Alex Caruso — the oldest player in the playoff rotation on the roster — is setting the tone on the court while also being an instrumental leader off the court.
This is a group that is fueled by its home crowd, with an 8-1 record at Paycom Center in the playoffs while maintaining an average margin of victory of nearly 25 points. The Thunder currently holds the largest average margin of victory overall for any playoff run at almost 13 points per game. As dominant as Oklahoma City was in the regular season, the playoffs have been even more critical.
From here, the Thunder will have just over a week off before taking the court in game action again. Game 1 of the NBA Finals will take place on June 5, with the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks being the last roadblock for the Thunder to earn its first-ever title in Oklahoma City.
History could be unfolding for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but it will take four more victories. Given the NBA Finals will be hosted in OKC, the first two games in that effort will take place at Paycom Center, which is a significant advantage. With how much this team has grown in the playoffs, expect the best version of the Thunder in the NBA Finals.
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