Oklahoma City Thunder Rol Roll NBA Finals for the first time in 13 years with Game 5 -break from Timberwolves

The Oklahoma City Thunder has booked their ticket for the NBA Finals with a demolition of 124-94 from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Trouncing in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals marks the second consecutive year that Minnesota has become a round of the final, while the Thunder has reached the championship phase for the first time since 2012.

The hosts were led by newly crowned MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, while he scored 34 points, expanded eight assists and took seven rebounds in an almost triple-Double version.

Chet Holmgren also had 22, while Jalen Williams and 19 before all three match checked out with more than five minutes to play.

Apart from an early 3-0 lead for Minnesota, it was a wire-to-wire victory for the Thunder, who kept their visitors at only nine first quarterly points.

From there, the lead from Oklahoma City to Ballon remained, and their suffering defense led the Timberwolves to stay more revenue (14) than the amount of Field Goals of Minnesota in the first half (12).

The Thunder -fans will now witness their team in the NBA final for the first time in 13 years

Gilgous-Alexander was named MVP of the Western Conference Finals after the competition

All in all, the hosts gave an impenetrable 65-32 lead during the break and eventually remained empty in what turned out to be a light-hearted second half.

After the conclusion of the game, Gilgous-Alexander was called the MVP of the series.

Returning to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the Canadian Guard is the third regular season MVP in the history of the moved franchise, but the Thunder has not been able to return to the final since the loss of the heat there in 2012.

There was also a series of four consecutive outputs of the first round between 2017-2020, while the team missed the late season completely from 2021-2023.

None of that was lost on Gilgous-Alexander when he celebrated his team and won the West.

“I just want to shout these fans, they have been here,” he said on the ESPN broadcast after the game.

‘I am here for a few years, there [was[ some really dark times in this arena, not fun times, and these fans have been by our side through thick and thin, so we appreciate that first and foremost.

‘And then, of course, I want to thank my teammates,’ he continued. ‘Without them, I’m nothing – clear as day. I don’t have 124 points [in the series] only.

“I love these guys to death. Now, with all that said, this is a step in the right direction, but we have a lot more work to do, and we know that, and we are focused on that. ‘

Chet Holmgren also had 22 points, seven rebounds and three blocks for the hosts

Thunder -Head coach Mark Daigneault holds the Oscar Robertson Western Conference Championship Trophy

Anthony Edwards was kept under control in Game 5 when he ended with a modest 19 points

The loss will be difficult to take for Anthony Edwards, who did not reach 20 points in the last two games of the series.

In fact, it was Julius Randle who led Minnesota on Sunday with 24 points, while Edwards 19 had.

The young star was in the press conference after the game that “no one is going to work harder this summer than me.”

The Thunder will now have more than a week before the final will start next Thursday 5 June.

However, they could teach their opponents as soon as Thursday evening, with the Knicks 3-1 to the Pacers and ready for a must-win game 5 in Madison Square Garden.

Regardless of who comes from the east, the number 1 seed Thunder – who has won no fewer than 68 games this regular season – Homecourt will have advantage.

Oklahoma City will organize the first two competitions of the final and if necessary games 5 and 7.