Thunder advance to first NBA Finals in 13 years

RTHK

3 days ago

Thunder advance to first NBA Finals in 13 years
With the win, the Thunder are the second-youngest team to reach the NBA Finals. Photo: Reuters
Oklahoma City, sparked by 34 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012 by routing Minnesota 124-94.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA Most Valuable Player, added eight assists and seven rebounds as the Thunder captured the best-of-seven Western Conference finals series 4-1 and 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 we know that and that's what we're focused on so let's buckle up and get ready," said Gilgeous-Alexander.
"We've got a lot of work to do to get to our ultimate goal and this is not it. That's all that I'm focused on," he added.
Oklahoma City will face the Eastern Conference champion, either the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks, for the league title.
Chet Holmgren added 22 points and Jalen Williams netted 19 for the Thunder.
"We have 17 dudes on the roster who will bring it every single game whether it's a closeout game or not," Holmgren said. "It's a step in the journey. We still have a season to play (in the Finals) so we're not done."
Williams was proud of the way players have melded into a team.
"We've been through ups and downs this entire season and that has only brought us closer. We've been able to bond and get better 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 T-Wolves, who have never reached the NBA Finals.
"This hurts. We were beat by the better team," Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. "Proud of our guys. It was a challenging season. We stuck with it. I like where we are."
Oklahoma City has never won an NBA title, although the franchise won a crown as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979 before relocating in 2008, and the Thunder last reached the finals in 2012, losing to Miami.
But the Thunder had the best record in the NBA this season and will be the team to beat.
"These guys are uncommon," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "They do everything right. They are professional. They are high character... They are competitive and most of all they are team first."
Oklahoma City dominated from the start, overpowering the T-Wolves in epic fashion as Minnesota suffered a nightmare performance when it mattered most.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 12 points in the first quarter as the Thunder grabbed a 26-9 lead, holding the Timberwolves to their lowest point 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, 1-of-9 from three-point range, and lost four turnovers.
The T-Wolves missed 10 of their first 11 shots as Oklahoma City jumped ahead 11-3, then the Thunder closed the quarter on a 13-2 run.
Oklahoma City rolled to a 48-20 advantage early in the second quarter on the way to a 65-32 half-time lead.
Minnesota surrendered 14 turnovers in the first half and made only 12 baskets.
The Timberwolves trailed by as many as 37 points before pulling within 88-62 after three quarters but never looked like overcoming the Thunder's dominant performance. (AFP)