Latest news with #Timberwolves
Miami Herald
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Thunder thrash Wolves in Game 5, storm into NBA Finals
Even before the basket went in, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander spread his arms wide to his side in celebration. Cason Wallace left his right arm high in the air, just waiting for the ball to drop through the basket. Soon enough, inevitably, it did. Wallace's corner 3-pointer at the buzzer was the exclamation point on a dominant first quarter for Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, who rode the hot start to a 124-94 home win that ended the Western Conference finals in Game 5 on Wednesday. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 34 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as the Thunder closed out the best-of-seven series. "I didn't want to go back to Minnesota travel-wise and I wanted the fans to enjoy the moment with us," Gilgeous-Alexander said. The Thunder are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012 and the fifth time in franchise history. The first three appearances came when the club was based in Seattle. Oklahoma City will host Game 1 of the Finals against either the Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks on June 5. "Happy for this moment, but this isn't our goal," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "This isn't the end of our road." The Wednesday outcome was evident early, as the Thunder buried the Timberwolves under the weight of a stifling defense and playmaking by Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. Oklahoma City put the game away quickly, leading by 17 after the first quarter and 33 at halftime. The Timberwolves saw their season end in the Western Conference finals for the second consecutive year. "I'm going to work my butt off this summer," Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards said. "Nobody's going to work harder than me this summer, I'll tell you that much." Gilgeous-Alexander dished out five of his assists in the opening quarter as he again showed why he was selected the NBA's Most Valuable Player. After the Timberwolves scored the game's first hoop, Gilgeous-Alexander had a hand in all five Oklahoma City baskets during an 11-0 run that started the Thunder's march toward the blowout. In that stretch, Gilgeous-Alexander had four assists -- three on Holmgren buckets -- and drained a finger roll to start the separation. On Monday, the Timberwolves started Game 4 red hot from the field but ultimately fell 128-126. On Wednesday, Minnesota struggled on offense from the start, going just 1-for-11 from the field over the first five minutes. Gilgeous-Alexander outscored Minnesota in the first quarter 12-9 and scored or assisted on 24 of the Thunder's 26 first-quarter points. Minnesota had more turnovers in the first half (14) than it did field goals (12). The Timberwolves finished with 21 turnovers. Holmgren amassed 22 points and seven rebounds while Williams had 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists. "These guys really make me feel like I'm a kid playing AAU basketball, like I'm 15 years old again," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "It's just fun. That's what makes us really good. We have so much fun being out there together." Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 24 points while Edwards scored 19 on 7-of-18 shooting. "They dominated the game from the tip," Edwards said. "Can't do nothing but tip my hat to those guys. They came ready." --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"Work My Butt Off This Summer": Anthony Edwards Reacts To Embarrassing Game 5 Loss Against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
"Work My Butt Off This Summer": Anthony Edwards Reacts To Embarrassing Game 5 Loss Against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The OKC Thunder have proceeded to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012 after a resounding win over the Timberwolves. In Game 5, they won 124-94 to send the Timberwolves packing on vacation. Anthony Edwards, the star player for the Timberwolves, struggled once again to produce offensively to the level of his own standard. He finished the game with 19 points, shooting 7 of 18 from the floor and 1 of 7 from beyond the arc. After the game, Edwards spoke to the media about the loss. Advertisement "They came ready to play, and we didn't. When you lose a game like this, there's not really too much to break down. They did what they were supposed to do and won the game... They dominated the game from the tip, and I can do nothing but tip my hat to those guys; they came ready, man, good job by them." When asked how he's feeling about the game, he admitted being hurt for his veteran teammate, Mike Conley, more than for himself. "I'm hurt, more so for myself, for Mike. I came up short for Mike. Like I said, we tried last year, we couldn't get it. We tried again this year, we'll try again next year. But hurt is a temporary word to use, I'm good." Upon further questioning about Mike Conley, Edwards even promised to work harder in the upcoming summer to help Conley win his first championship. Advertisement "I'mma work my butt off this summer. Nobody's gonna work harder than me this summer, I can tell you that much. I'll try to make it happen again for Mike." Anthony Edwards' offensive skill set seemed to be no match for the defensive prowess of the Thunder. This has given Anthony Edwards a chip on his shoulder to work on in the summer. Analyzing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander And Anthony Edwards' Performance In This Series Before the series began, we did a comprehensive analysis of Anthony Edwards compared to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the Playoffs. Gilegous-Alexander, who averaged 8.8 free throw attempts per game in the regular season, averaged 8.8 makes in 10.2 attempts per game in this series. Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 31.4 points, 8.2 assists and 5.2 rebounds in five games in the series. Without the free throws, he would average 24.6 points per game in this series (44 free throws made in 167 points scored over five games). Advertisement Edwards, on the other hand, has averaged 23.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists in the five games played. Without the free throws, he would average 18.6 points per game (22 free throws made in 115 points scored over five games). Gilgeous-Alexander still had a better performance in this series and thus thoroughly deserved the unanimous win for the West Finals MVP award. Related: Isiah Thomas Says Thunder Are Treating Anthony Edwards Like 'The Bad Boy' Pistons Treated Michael Jordan This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NBA Finals berth puts Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Stephen Curry MVP company
The post NBA Finals berth puts Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Stephen Curry MVP company appeared first on ClutchPoints. It has been quite a ride in the 2024-25 NBA season so far for Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Advertisement But he's not done yet. After being named the 2025 NBA Most Valuable Player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added another major award to his resume, as he won the 2025 Western Conference Finals MVP, as he led the Thunder to a series win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. With the league MVP in the bag and an NBA Finals berth with the Thunder, the former Kentucky Wildcats star will be joining future Basketball Hall of Famer and Golden State Warriors superstar point guard Stephen Curry in an exclusive club. From the NBA Communications X account: 'Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be the first player to win the Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award and play in the NBA Finals presented by @YouTubeTV in the same season since Golden State's Stephen Curry in 2015-16.' Advertisement Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will officially complete that feat once he steps on the court in the 2025 NBA Finals. For now, he and the Thunder will still have to wait to see which team they will be locking horns with in the last stage of the playoffs, with the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks still battling it out in the Eastern Conference finals. That series could be over as soon as this Thursday night, though, as Indiana could set the date with the Thunder in the NBA Finals with a win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in Game 5. With his ability to take over games on offense, Gilgeous-Alexander has become such a dangerous weapon for the Thunder on the court that none of Oklahoma City's previous three playoff opponents managed to solve. He dominated the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, thwarted the Denver Nuggets in the second round and humbled the Timberwolves in the conference finals. Gilgeous-Alexander had a spectacular series versus the Timberwolves. After lighting up Minnesota for 34 points on 14-for-25 shooting in the Thunder's series-clinching 124-94 win on Wednesday, Gilgeous-Alexander concluded the Western Conference finals with averages of 31.4 points, 8.2 assists and 5.2 rebounds through five games.
Yahoo
5 hours 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.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ranking 3 best Rudy Gobert trade destinations if Timberwolves go nuclear
The post Ranking 3 best Rudy Gobert trade destinations if Timberwolves go nuclear appeared first on ClutchPoints. Rudy Gobert's performance in the Western Conference Final has received criticism from the majority of Minnesota Timberwolves fans. As a result, some of the fans are suggesting finding a suitable trade destination for the tall Frenchman. There is no doubt that the 32-year-old shotblocker still has some gas left in the tank, and the final few years before he calls it quits. Advertisement There is no denying that his output on both ends of the court has declined over the past few years. Nevertheless, irrespective of the numbers, he remains one of the experienced players on the team and a leader on the court. Gobert's offensive output was not the only issue in the Timberwolves loss to the Thunder; the whole team as a unit struggled to put up numbers on the board. Gobert has always been a below-average offensive player for his career. His lack of offensive skills, poor ball handling in the paint, and touch around the rim are all the problems that have haunted him throughout his career. His impact at the offensive end is worrying, and it might not come as a surprise if the Timberwolves decide to let him go. Rudy Gobert's underwhelming performance in the West Final In the 2025 Western Conference Final against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Gobert impressed with his defensive numbers and acted as a defensive anchor for the team in a losing effort. Across the five-game series, Gobert averaged 10 points, 11 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game. Advertisement Although the Timberwolves ultimately lost the series, Gobert's numbers were marked by consistency, efficiency, and a reliable interior presence. If he could have just imposed himself strongly in the paint and motivated players around him who were beaten down and inferior to the Thunder players, the story might have been different. On the defensive end of the court, Gobert averaged nearly two blocks per game and was a dominant presence at certain times. However, Chet Holmgren was dominating the field both in terms of offense and defense, which no Timberwolves player was able to contain. He was rushing to the glass, won a majority of the second balls, and blew away the defence of the Timberwolves, who looked tired and beat down in the final game of the series. Gobert's presence on the glass was also crucial; in Games 1 and 5, he pulled down 12 and 13 rebounds, many of which were contested. His best performance of the series was arguably in Game 3, where he recorded 12 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks. Boston Celtics The Celtics are heading towards a transitional season and are on the verge of letting key players leave in order to build a stronger and younger core around Jayson Tatum. Gobert can be a very good addition to the team if they let go of Porzingis. Both teams could look for a straight swap, but considering the financial turmoil the Celtics find themselves in, this trade could be an unrealistic one, as Gobert has a heavy contract. Chicago Bulls The Bulls were interested in Rudy Gobert in 2022 and can again go for him in this offseason as the Timberwolves lost to the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. The Bulls can send Nikola Vucevic the other way and get Gobert, who is a true defensive anchor, or continue to hover in NBA mediocrity. New Orleans Pelicans The New Orleans Pelicans are short of good centers on the team, and that's where Gobert can fit in smoothly. With an injury-prone star like Zion, having Gobert behind him would be beneficial for the Pelicans. New Orleans has enough perimeter scoring to make it work.
