Latest news with #T-Wolves
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chet Holmgren sets franchise record as Thunder clinches 2025 NBA Finals berth
The post Chet Holmgren sets franchise record as Thunder clinches 2025 NBA Finals berth appeared first on ClutchPoints. Chet Holmgren will earn his first taste of the NBA Finals. His Oklahoma City Thunder pummeled the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-94 to clinch the Western Conference title. The Thunder big man hit franchise history on his way to a Finals berth. Advertisement Holmgren dropped 22 points on the T-Wolves. He swooped up seven rebounds too. Then he turned to his long arms to block three Minnesota shot attempts. He's the youngest player to hit those marks in a WCF game, per StatMuse. Holmgren blitzed the T-Wolves right away with scoring seven of OKC's first 11 points. Including throwing down this thunderous dunk off a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assist. The towering Holmgren energized an early 26-9 first quarter lead for the home team. He showed a mix of jubilation but focus for the next step he and OKC must take. Chet Holmgren reacts to heading to NBA Finals with Thunder Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images The versatile forward-center walked into the WCF facing his hometown team. Holmgren hailed from Minnesota and called the conference final a 'full circle moment.' Advertisement He helped make quick work of the feisty T-Wolves — winning in five games. The former No. 2 overall pick from the 2022 NBA Draft earned hefty praise for leading this new Thunder run. But he chose to deflect the credit. 'We have 17 dudes on the roster who works hard every single night,' Holmgren told the crowd postgame. But is he satisfied with getting OKC back into the Larry O'Brien Trophy hunt? 'I wouldn't say it's satisfying. It's a step in the journey,' Holmgren told ESPN's Lisa Salters in front of the Paycom Center crowd. 'We still have some season to play. Never take it for granted cause I couldn't even walk for two months.' Advertisement Holmgren sat for nearly 50 games with a right iliac wing fracture (also a pelvic fracture). He sustained the ailment on November 10, 2024. The Thunder welcomed him back in Feb. 2025 — and the rest became history. Now Holmgren and the 2025 Western Conference champs await the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks.
France 24
27-05-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Gilgeous-Alexander scores 40 as Thunder on brink of NBA Finals
Gilgeous-Alexander scored a playoff career-high 40 points and added 10 assists and nine rebounds to spark the Thunder, who took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals series with game five to come on Wednesday at Oklahoma City. "You know how close you are but you're still so far away," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Play to our identity on both ends of the floor. If we do that we'll be just fine. If not, it could get ugly." Jalen Williams added 34 points with 6-of-9 shooting from three-point range and Chet Holmgren contributed 21 for the Thunder. "They were amazing," said Gilgeous-Alexander. "They were confident. They weren't rattled by the moment... I'm nothing but proud of these two." The Thunder have not reached the NBA Finals since losing to Miami in 2012 while the T-Wolves have never reached the championship series. Reserves Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Donte DiVincenzo sparked Minnesota with 23 and 21 points respectively, while Jaden McDaniels added 22. "Give their role guys credit," said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. "The shotmaking was ridiculous so for us to overcome that on the road the way we did was a great team win. "We're expecting their best punch in game five so we have to play hard again if we want to win." Minnesota star guard Anthony Edwards, tightly marshalled all night, managed only 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting. "Definitely not the points I wanted to get but they didn't let me get too many shots off," Edwards said. "I don't look at it like I struggled. They just had a good game plan... I didn't get enough shots to say I struggled." The Timberwolves surrendered 21 turnovers and allowed the Thunder 19 offensive rebounds. "They got 40 more possessions and we lost by two," Edwards said. "We can work with that." "You're not going to beat a team like this if you are turning it over 20-plus times," Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. Oklahoma City won the first two games at home but host Minnesota delivered the worst playoff loss in Thunder history in game three. "Had a bad taste in our mouths from the last game," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "We wanted to control the things we could control." Finch said the T-Wolves can win the series but added, "This isn't the formula to get it done. That's the most important thing to take away from tonight." 'Brawl from the jump' Both teams were physical and aggressive from the start, with Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams each scoring 13 points in the first quarter as the Thunder took a 37-30 lead. "It was just a brawl from the jump," Daigneault said. "The first five to seven minutes of that game was unbelievably physical. The guys just battled up." Gilgeous-Alexander was 5-of-6 from the floor while Williams was 5-of-8 and 3-of-5 from three-point range in the first quarter. "Shai was obviously brilliant. Chet was a monster," Daigneault said. "Everybody who went into the game gave us a huge contribution." Gilgeous-Alexander had 21 points in the first half as Oklahoma City led 65-57 at half-time and 90-85 entering the fourth quarter. "I tried to lose myself in the game," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Be aggressive, pick my spots and doing so really helped." McDaniels sank a left corner three-pointer with 23 seconds remaining to lift Minnesota within 123-121, but Gilgeous-Alexander converted two free throws. Gilgeous-Alexander answered a Gobert basket with another free throw but Minnesota had a late chance. Naz Reid and Gilgeous-Alexander traded free throws for a 128-125 Thunder lead and Edwards was fouled with 3.5 seconds remaining. He made the first free throw, deliberately missed the second, but Gilgeous-Alexander got the rebound and threw the ball out of bounds with 0.3 of a second to play. A failed desperation inbounds play sealed Minnesota's fate. "Definitely sucks being that close," Alexander-Walker said. "Got to play like there's no tomorrow because there isn't."
Kuwait Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Timberwolves silence Thunder to tighten NBA playoff series
T-Wolves set a club record for points in a playoff game WASHINGTON: Anthony Edwards scored 30 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves overwhelmed Oklahoma City 143-101 on Saturday to tighten their NBA playoff series. Edwards added nine rebounds and six assists while shooting 12-of-17 from the floor and 5-of-8 from three-point range as the host T-Wolves pulled a game back to be 2-1 behind in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals. 'I was super happy about the physicality and energy we brought,' Edwards said. 'Being down 2-0, it's all about bringing energy and we brought high energy.' Julius Randle added 24 points for Minnesota, which set a club record for points in a playoff game in ripping the NBA regular-season win leaders and NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who managed only 14 points. 'We got punched in the mouth,' said Gilgeous-Alexander. 'You get punched, it's about getting back up. It's about responding. That's what the next challenge is.' The Thunder, who won the first two games at home, face game four on Monday at Minneapolis and game five on Wednesday at Oklahoma City. 'I know everyone is happy about this one but we know OKC is going to come out and bring hella-energy and they are going to be ready to go and going to try to win game four and we've got to try and exceed their energy and get a win,' Edwards said. 'We'll be ready.' Minnesota's victory was crucial because no team has ever recovered from a 3-0 deficit to win an NBA playoff series. 'We just didn't bring it from an energy and focus standpoint,' said Gilgeous-Alexander. 'We just didn't have it. They had the sense of urgency knowing if they go down 3-0 it's going to be pretty tough. 'They blitzed us pretty early and we were never able to get back. We've got to start coming out with a sense of urgency.' The T-Wolves set a club record for points in a playoff game and led by as much as 129-84 late in the fourth quarter. 'We do have to look at it and address the things that went awry for us,' said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. 'They really took it to us. 'They were just much more physical, much sharper, executed better, more forceful on offense. For the score to be what it was, they needed to outplay us in a lot of areas and that's what they did.' Randle was benched late in game two and unhappy about it but responded by taking out his frustrations on the Thunder. 'He knows not to take nothing too personal,' Edwards said of Randle. 'I could see it in his eyes. He wanted his respect back and he got it.' Energy and force Minnesota seized a 72-41 half-time lead, with Edwards shooting 8-of-11 from the floor and producing 20 points and eight rebounds in the first half. 'We just weren't able to bottle him up the way we had the first couple of games,' Daigneault said. 'Credit him for the energy and force that he played with. He was really on it early.' The T-Wolves led by as much as 68-33 in the first half and set a club record for playoff points in a half with 72. They scored 13 points off 10 forced turnovers in the first half while the Thunder shot 12-of-40. 'The biggest thing is they came out and played with more force than we did,' Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren said. 'Wherever they wanted to go, they got there. They didn't let us stop them.' Edwards scored 16 points in the first quarter, outproducing the Thunder as the T-Wolves seized their biggest lead of the series to that point at 34-14. 'Our intensity, from the first minute of the game, we set a tone,' Minnesota's Rudy Gobert said. 'Everyone came out with the mindset to be physical. We did a good job staying with it consistently through the whole game.' In the second half, Oklahoma City began with an 11-2 run but the T-Wolves answered with a 10-0 spurt and went on to grab a 103-61 lead as the Thunder sent their starters to the bench late in the third quarter. — AFP
The 42
25-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Timberwolves silence Thunder to tighten NBA playoff series
ANTHONY EDWARDS SCORED 30 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves overwhelmed Oklahoma City 143-101 on Saturday to tighten their NBA playoff series. Edwards added nine rebounds and six assists while shooting 12-of-17 from the floor and 5-of-8 from three-point range as the host T-Wolves pulled a game back to be 2-1 behind in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals. 'I was super happy about the physicality and energy we brought,' Edwards said. 'Being down 2-0, it's all about bringing energy and we brought high energy.' Julius Randle added 24 points for Minnesota, which set a club record for points in a playoff game in ripping the NBA regular-season win leaders and NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who managed only 14 points. 'We got punched in the mouth,' said Gilgeous-Alexander. 'You get punched, it's about getting back up. It's about responding. That's what the next challenge is.' The Thunder, who won the first two games at home, face game four on Monday at Minneapolis and game five on Wednesday at Oklahoma City. 'I know everyone is happy about this one but we know OKC is going to come out and bring hella-energy and they are going to be ready to go and going to try to win game four and we've got to try and exceed their energy and get a win,' Edwards said. 'We'll be ready.' Advertisement Minnesota's victory was crucial because no team has ever recovered from a 3-0 deficit to win an NBA playoff series. 'We just didn't bring it from an energy and focus standpoint,' said Gilgeous-Alexander. 'We just didn't have it. They had the sense of urgency knowing if they go down 3-0 it's going to be pretty tough. 'They blitzed us pretty early and we were never able to get back. We've got to start coming out with a sense of urgency.' The T-Wolves set a club record for points in a playoff game and led by as much as 129-84 late in the fourth quarter. 'We do have to look at it and address the things that went awry for us,' said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. 'They really took it to us. 'They were just much more physical, much sharper, executed better, more forceful on offense. For the score to be what it was, they needed to outplay us in a lot of areas and that's what they did.' Randle was benched late in game two and unhappy about it but responded by taking out his frustrations on the Thunder. 'He knows not to take nothing too personal,' Edwards said of Randle. 'I could see it in his eyes. He wanted his respect back and he got it.' Minnesota seized a 72-41 half-time lead, with Edwards shooting 8-of-11 from the floor and producing 20 points and eight rebounds in the first half. 'We just weren't able to bottle him up the way we had the first couple of games,' Daigneault said. 'Credit him for the energy and force that he played with. He was really on it early.' The T-Wolves led by as much as 68-33 in the first half and set a club record for playoff points in a half with 72. They scored 13 points off 10 forced turnovers in the first half while the Thunder shot 12-of-40. 'The biggest thing is they came out and played with more force than we did,' Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren said. 'Wherever they wanted to go, they got there. They didn't let us stop them.' Edwards scored 16 points in the first quarter, outproducing the Thunder as the T-Wolves seized their biggest lead of the series to that point at 34-14. 'Our intensity, from the first minute of the game, we set a tone,' Minnesota's Rudy Gobert said. 'Everyone came out with the mindset to be physical. We did a good job staying with it consistently through the whole game.' In the second half, Oklahoma City began with an 11-2 run but the T-Wolves answered with a 10-0 spurt and went on to grab a 103-61 lead as the Thunder sent their starters to the bench late in the third quarter. – © AFP 2025
France 24
25-05-2025
- Sport
- France 24
T-Wolves silence Thunder to tighten NBA playoff series
Edwards added nine rebounds and six assists while shooting 12-of-17 from the floor and 5-of-8 from three-point range as the host T-Wolves pulled within 2-1 in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals. "I was super happy about the physicality we brought and the energy we brought," Edwards said. "Being down 2-0, it's all about bringing energy and we brought high energy." Julius Randle added 24 points for Minnesota, which set a club record for points in a playoff game in ripping the NBA regular-season win leaders and NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who managed only 14 points. The Thunder, who won the first two games at home, face game four on Monday at Minneapolis and game five on Wednesday at Oklahoma City. "You've got to erase this one. This one is over," said Edwards. "I know everyone is happy about this one but we know OKC is going to come out and bring hella-energy and they are going to be ready to go and going to try to win game four and we've got to try and exceed their energy and get a win. "We'll be ready." The West winner will face either the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks in the NBA Finals. Minnesota's victory was crucial because no team has ever recovered from a 3-0 deficit to win an NBA playoff series. The dominating fashion by which the T-Wolves won, setting a club record for points in a playoff game and leading by as many as 45 points, indicated they could be a threat to upset the playoff top seeds. Randle was benched late in game two and unhappy about it but responded by taking out his frustrations on the Thunder. "He's a vet. A vet knows what to do. A vet knows how to respond," Edwards said of Randle. "He knows not to take nothing too personal... I could see it in his eyes. He wanted his respect back and he got it." Edwards was also pleased for reserve Terrence Shannon, who scored 15 points in 13 minutes on the court. "TJ came in and brought ultimate energy," Edwards said. "We can't ask for nothing more. He came in and made all the right plays, attacked the basket with aggression and he came up big for us." Minnesota seized a 72-41 half-time lead, with Edwards shooting 8-of-11 from the floor and producing 20 points and eight rebounds in the first half. The T-Wolves led by as many as 35 points in the first half, at 68-33, and set a club record for playoff points in a half, only to break it in the second half. They scored 13 points off 10 forced turnovers in the first half, in which the Thunder managed only a dozen baskets on 12-of-40 shooting. Edwards scored 16 points in the first quarter, outproducing the Thunder as the T-Wolves seized their biggest lead of the series to that point at 34-14. The Timberwolves pushed to a 48-20 edge, the Thunder starting 6-of-27 from the floor as Gilgeous-Alexander had two points on 1-of-5 shooting. In the second half, Oklahoma City began with an 11-2 run but the T-Wolves answered with a 10-0 spurt and went on to grab a 103-61 lead as the Thunder sent their starters to the bench late in the third quarter. The Timberwolves took their biggest lead at 129-84 late in the fourth quarter.
