Latest news with #MarkDaigneault
USA Today
17 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Mark Daigneault explains advantages OKC playoff crowd brings to Thunder
Running opponents out of the gym, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been an unstoppable machine at their home gym throughout the 2025 NBA playoffs. Sans a heroic Aaron Gordon game-winner, the first seed has beaten teams by double-digit points in the first three rounds. Several Thunder players have discussed the boost the OKC crowd has. Paycom Center is notorious for having one of the best homecourt advantages. This year's playoff run was a reminder to the rest of the league as the Thunder return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012. Even Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault notices the intangible jump fans can provide. He made sure to close his postgame speech when they won the Western Conference Finals by asking fans to rest up for the week, as they will need them for Game 1 on Thursday, June 5. 'I walk out there three minutes before the game and everybody is ready. They're in their seats. They're standing. Their T-shirts are on. They not only help you when you're on a positive run and it's gotten unbelievably loud, they've also done a great job," Daigneault said. "But there was a time in Game 5 in the third quarter where we didn't really have our footing and Minnesota was starting to get some confidence. It felt a little uneasy what was going on at the court. They sensed that it was a moment the team needed them." The Thunder still don't know their NBA Finals opponent. It'll be either the Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks. But considering an Eastern Conference squad hasn't made multiple visits to OKC in over a decade, expect the winner to experience a culture shock that'll take the first few minutes to get used to. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
OKC Thunder practice: What Mark Daigneault, Chet Holmgren said on May 31
May 28, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) celebrates after a play during the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves in game five of the western conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images After a two-day rest, the Oklahoma City Thunder held their first 2025 NBA Finals media availability on Saturday. They're fresh off a blowout Game 5 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves to punch their ticket to the championship round. The Thunder will now enjoy a week off before they host Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, June 5. The Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks will be the opposition. Indiana holds a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. Advertisement Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and Chet Holmgren talked to the media on Saturday. Daigneault discussed OKC's homecourt advantage while Holmgren reflected on his journey from a hip fracture that cost him three months. Here's a recap of the Thunder's NBA Finals May 31 practice: This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Thunder practice: What Mark Daigneault, Chet Holmgren said on May 31
USA Today
21 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
OKC Thunder practice: What Mark Daigneault, Chet Holmgren said on May 31
After a two-day rest, the Oklahoma City Thunder held their first 2025 NBA Finals media availability on Saturday. They're fresh off a blowout Game 5 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves to punch their ticket to the championship round. The Thunder will now enjoy a week off before they host Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, June 5. The Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks will be the opposition. Indiana holds a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and Chet Holmgren talked to the media on Saturday. Daigneault discussed OKC's homecourt advantage while Holmgren reflected on his journey from a hip fracture that cost him three months. Here's a recap of the Thunder's NBA Finals May 31 practice: Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Magic Johnson Apologizes To OKC Thunder Moments After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Wins West Finals MVP
Magic Johnson Apologizes To OKC Thunder Moments After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Wins West Finals MVP originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The OKC Thunder have stunned the Timberwolves and sent them packing in Game 5 of their Western Conference Finals series. They won the game 124-94 to close out the series 4-1 in five games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP Award following his 34-point masterclass to help the Thunder close out the series. That makes two MVP awards for him in the same month, as earlier this month it was also declared that he is the recipient of the Michael Jordan MVP Award for the regular season. Advertisement Following the game, Magic Johnson himself took to social media to react to the Thunder's blowout win over the Timberwolves in Game 5, where they won by 30 points. He apologized to the Thunder for underestimating their abilities and congratulated Sam Presti, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and other related parties of the Thunder. "I want to apologize to the Oklahoma City Thunder for underestimating them and not thinking they were ready to compete for a Championship," he wrote on X right after the game ended. "I want to congratulate the Oklahoma City Thunder Coach Mark Daigneault as well as NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the rest of the OKC team on advancing to the NBA Finals!" wrote the Lakers legend on X. "Oklahoma City Thunder's fan base needs to give their GM, Sam Presti, a standing ovation for putting together an amazing roster!" he further added. Advertisement "Congratulations to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for winning the MVP of the Western Conference Finals named after me. What I love about Shai is that he dominates on the court and is humble off the court!" said Johnson as he congratulated SGA on winning the award named after him. He also congratulated the former Lakers player, Alex Caruso, for proceeding to the NBA Finals once again. Magic Johnson Picked The Minnesota Timberwolves To Win This Series Johnson even went on to criticize his pick in the series, the Minnesota Timberwolves. He called them out for bad body language and playing like they're already on vacation. Advertisement "The Minnesota Timberwolves did not put forth a desperation effort in tonight's game. They had bad body language and played like they were already on vacation." Before the series began, Johnson went on X to drop his predictions for the series. He picked the Knicks and the Timberwolves to win the respective conference finals. Turns out, both his predictions may be incorrect as the Timberwolves have been eliminated in five games and the Knicks are staring at elimination after going down 3-1 in their series against the Pacers. Related: "Work My Butt Off This Summer": Anthony Edwards Reacts To Embarrassing Game 5 Loss Against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why NBA Finals trip is bittersweet for Thunder's Mark Daigneault
The post Why NBA Finals trip is bittersweet for Thunder's Mark Daigneault appeared first on ClutchPoints. The NBA Finals now have their first finalist. Head coach Mark Daigneault and the Oklahoma City Thunder captured the Western Conference crown with a resounding 124-94 rout of the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5. Advertisement But to truly understand the Thunder's dominance, you have to look at how completely the Timberwolves unraveled. In the series finale, Minnesota collapsed into disarray, unable to match Oklahoma City's relentless intensity. With the Wolves' season hanging in the balance, the Thunder came out with a sharp, almost cruel sense of purpose. They didn't just win—they stripped Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, and the rest of the squad of their fight. What should have been a celebratory night for OKC carried an unexpected sting of sympathy for a Minnesota team left in ruins. 'We had it all going. The focus through the distraction of a closeout game to go to the Finals is what was most impressive. We were laser focused,' said the Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault. 'That allowed our best to come to the surface.' Right from the opening tip, Daigneault's team seized command. After Minnesota struck first, Canadian MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander answered with a scorching stretch on offense, playing a role in each of the Thunder's first five scores during a momentum-shifting 11-0 run that immediately silenced the Timberwolves' early spark. 'This is such a fun team. We're happy we're going to the Finals, but I don't want it to end. I don't want to stop coaching this team.' Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder to the Finals Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Gilgeous-Alexander delivered 34 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds in just 34 minutes, capping off his dominant series with the Western Conference Finals MVP award. Advertisement The Timberwolves unraveled. Edwards, swarmed by Oklahoma City's versatile perimeter defenders, faded into the background during the early surge. Randle, rattled by the Thunder's relentless pressure throughout the series, spent much of Game 5 in a daze, often glancing around in frustration after coughing up yet another turnover. Minnesota's defense was practically nonexistent. Gilgeous-Alexander moved freely, blowing past Jaden McDaniels on the wing and picking apart Rudy Gobert in the paint. Jalen Williams (19 points, eight boards, five dimes) and Chet Holmgren (22 points, seven rebounds) coasted through the game with ease, as the Timberwolves showed little fight or willingness to make the gritty, high-effort plays that playoff basketball demands. Randle paced Minnesota with 24 points, while Edwards chipped in 19, but his shooting woes continued as he went just 7-of-18 from the field. This marks the Timberwolves' second consecutive elimination in the Western Conference Finals. After clinching the series 4-1, Daigneault and the Thunder now await the victor of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks. Game 1 of the NBA Finals is set for June 5 in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder will hold home-court advantage. The Thunder's revival, fueled by a talented young roster and MVP Gilgeous-Alexander, signals the start of a new chapter for a franchise determined to pursue an NBA championship once again.
