We are witnessing a historic NBA playoff series. Basketball needed this—potential new rivals, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs. Game 1 went into double overtime, and the Spurs outlasted Oklahoma City, 122-115.

But one moment broke through the drama. It got so intense that at the end of regulation, Chet Holmgren blocked Victor Wembanyama, and the camera panned to the Thunder bench, where Alex Caruso shoved the camera away from the huddle.
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To be fair, Caruso, who scored a team-high 31 points in the game one loss. He shot eight for 14 from three-point range and 11 for 19 all around.

Wembanyama had 41 points, 24 rebounds, three blocks and even pulled up from the logo to tie the game in the first overtime. It takes a lot of guts to shoot that shot, and he did that and made it.

The scary part about this is that Wembanyama‘s only 22 years old. It’s basically six on five when he’s out there on the court. Another scary thing for many Thunder fans is that the Spurs were without their starting point guard, De’Aaron Fox, on the floor because he was out with a sprained ankle.

But they drafted a heck of a point guard at pick number two of this year‘s NBA draft, Dylan Harper out of Rutgers. He had a game, and he’s just so smooth. He went 8-for-20, with all those shooting 1-for-7 from three. He was seven from seven from the free-throw line.

This series is the Gen Z version of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. These will be matchups for years to come, given the amount of talent both teams have.

Jalen Williams injured his hamstring in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Game 2 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

The Thunder defeated the Suns 120-107. The Thunder now leads the series two games to zero.

In the third quarter, Williams was driving to the basket on a fast break. Williams missed the layup and immediately grabbed his left hamstring. Despite receiving some contact from Devin Booker, the injury appeared not to be contact-related. Williams attempted to stay in the game. However, he fouled Booker and limped to the locker room. 

Williams was having a strong game before his injury with 19 points. He didn’t return for the rest of the game, but the Thunder still won behind 37 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and four blocks from Chet Holmgren. 

Williams missed the first 19 games of the season due to a right wrist injury. On Jan. 17, Williams suffered a right hamstring injury against the Miami Heat. He missed 10 games in January and February. He attempted to return on Feb. 9. Although he scored over 20 points in two games, he still dealt with pain and was forced to miss 16 more games.

Williams hurt his left hamstring in the game against the Suns. However, a study by Accu-Med Diagnostic Centers found that when one hamstring is injured, the body often overcompensates by placing more pressure on the other leg. This can lead to increased risk of non-contact hamstring injuries, which is what Williams suffered. 

In July 2025, the Thunder gave Williams a five-year, $239 million extension. This will make Williams the 32nd-highest-paid player in the league, tied with teammate Holmgren. The Thunder hope he can find a way to stay healthy during the massive contract.

He is currently listed as day-to-day for Game 3 of the first-round series against the Suns. 

Chet Holmgren recorded four blocks in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Game 2 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

The Thunder defeated the Suns 120-107. The Thunder now leads the series two games to zero.

Holmgren was a dominant force defensively, recording four blocks and seven defensive rebounds. He also scored 19 points while shooting 50 percent from three-point range. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also had a great game, scoring 37 points and dishing out 9 assists. 

The Suns were led by their wing duo of Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks. Brooks scored 30 points while Booker scored 22 points. Despite this, the Suns couldn’t find a way to stop the Thunder’s offense.

Alexander and Brooks were seen arguing on the court. Brooks played tough defense on Alexander, but Alexander scored more times than not. Alexander was asked about his arguments with Brooks in the postgame interviews.

“He was just doing his usual antics. Then, I scored on him. I let him hear it a little bit,” Alexander said. 

Brooks is known for his tough style of play. In Game 1, he received a flagrant foul after hitting Holmgren in the face while going for a loose ball. 

For Brooks, getting the mental edge is just as important as hitting shots. In the second quarter, Brooks fouled Alexander, causing Alexander to fall. Brooks looked visibly frustrated that a foul was called, claiming that Alexander flopped.

One possession later, Alexander hit a shot over Brooks and pointed at him with his thumb. This is a reference to a meme where Jerry from Tom and Jerry points at Tom to mock him after he gets hurt.

Despite their back-and-forth, there doesn’t seem to be hard feelings between the two. Both were members of Team Canada in the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The next game of this series will be on April 25.

Former NBA player Kyle Singler, who starred at Duke and later played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, has been charged with misdemeanor assault following an alleged domestic incident in eastern Oklahoma last week.

According to Haskell County court documents, Singler, 37, faces one count of assault and battery in the presence of a child. The charge stems from an incident last week in Whitefield, Oklahoma, where deputies responded to a 911 call reporting that Singlar was chasing a woman outside a home.

>SLIDESHOW: MOST INFAMOUS SPORTS MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

An arrest affidavit states that the woman was Singler’s girlfriend. She told the deputies that Singler grabbed her head and shoved her to the ground. She also added that their young child was present during this altercation. Deputy Mitch Dobbs noted visible marks on the woman’s face and arms are consistent with her account.

Singler was taken into custody on Thursday and booked into the Haskell County jail before being released on a $6000 bond. Authorities said he did not cooperate during questioning and appeared to be under the influence of narcotics at the time of the arrest.

Court records did not list an attorney for Singler, and his former agent, Jason Ranne, confirmed he “no longer represents the former forward.”

Singler was a key member of Duke’s 2010 national championship team, earning Most Outstanding Player honors in the NCAA Tournament. Selected 33rd overall by the Detroit Pistons in 2011, he went on to play five NBA seasons, three in Detroit and parts of four with the Thunder, before his career ended in 2018.

The Oklahoma City Thunder kicked off their 2025-26 NBA season Tuesday night in front of a packed Paycom Center, celebrating their first NBA championship in franchise history. They unveiled their banner and had a ring ceremony before facing the Houston Rockets.

Players, coaches and fans watched as the 2025 championship banner rose to the rafters, marking the culmination of a historic 68-14 season that ended with the Thunder hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy last June.

The Thunder also revealed their custom-made championship rings, designed by The Champions Collective, featuring intricate details that pay tribute to both the team’s success and Oklahoma’s heritage.

Each ring features a removable inner band engraved with the player’s jersey number and signature. The top opens to reveal an image of the team celebrating their championship win. One side showcases the team’s record and player number, surrounded by lightning bolts — a nod to the Thunder’s name — and the other displays the year 2025 alongside the team’s logo.

The design also incorporates a local tribute: the outer palm side of the ring honors the Gates of Time and Reflecting Pool at the Oklahoma City National Memorial. Inside the ring, the Latin phrase “Labor Omnia Vincit,” meaning “Work conquers all” and serving as Oklahoma’s state motto, is engraved.

Fans cheered as team captain Shai Gilgeous-Alexander accepted his ring to a standing ovation, which symbolized a new era for the franchise that began its rebuild just a few seasons ago. As the banner settled above the court, the celebration turned to the future, with the Thunder looking to defend their title and prove that last season was only the beginning.

Top draft pick Cooper Flagg impressed fans and everyone in his NBA debut Monday night, helping the Dallas Mavericks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 106-89. The first-year rookie showed versatility; he posted ten points, six rebounds, three assists and one block in just 14 minutes. Flagg scored all his points during a two-minute burst in the second quarter. Coach Jason Kidd praised him for his defense, playmaking and composure in his first appearance.

Flagg’s scoring right now showed the all-around skill set that made him the number one pick of the draft. Beyond his offensive efforts, he made an early defensive statement, blocking a lay-up just over a minute into the game. This led to a fast break and a dunk. The energy he brought to the court set a tone for what he has to offer this season. His confidence with the ball and ability to read the floor made him look like a seasoned veteran rather than a rookie. He showed flashes of leadership, communication on defense and keeping the offense moving smoothly. For Dallas, his performance hinted at how quickly he could become a major part of their system.

His debut not only showcased his strength on the court but also his ability to seamlessly integrate into the Mavericks’ team dynamic. Played alongside stars like Anthony Davis. He did not try to dominate the ball; instead, he found a rhythm that complemented the team. His positioning and off-the-ball play allowed the game to flow naturally. Kidd emphasized, “that Flagg’s unselfishness and Basketball IQ” will be key for the team’s chemistry.

Flagg’s awareness and patience stood out throughout the game, especially for an 18-year-old rookie. He trusted his teammates, made smart passes and stayed composed under pressure. Kidd added, “Flagg’s maturity and adaptability could make him an impactful player much sooner than expected.”

Oklahoma City Thunder star and 2025 NBA champion Chet Holmgren has agreed to a fully guaranteed five-year maximum rookie contract extension that could reach $250 million, agent Bill Duffy of WME Basketball said on Wednesday morning.

After missing three months during the season because of a hip injury, Holmgren returned in February and came back stronger to help lead the Thunder and their young core to the NBA title. Holmgren’s deal does not include a player option or team option.

Thunder officials will move toward locking in All-NBA superstar Jalen Williams, who has momentum in his rookie extension talks.

The second-youngest team in NBA history to win a championship, the Thunder have now locked Holmgren and league MVP and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to long-term maximum contract extensions. On Tuesday, Gilgeous-Alexander signed a four-year, $285 million contract extension through the 2030-31 season.

Holmgren is part of a tight-knit Thunder core set to play together and contend for an NBA championship for several years to come.

The No. 2 selection in the 2022 draft, Holmgren suffered the second major injury of his NBA career after he broke his pelvis in early November. He also missed his entire rookie season due to a ligament tear in his right foot.

Holmgren returned from his pelvis injury shortly before the All-Star break in February and finished the season averaging 15 points, eight rebounds and 2.2 blocks while shooting 49% from the field and 37.9% from 3-point range. He went on to play in all 23 games during the Thunder’s title run, and his plus-169 plus-minus was the best mark of any player in the 2025 postseason, according to ESPN Research.

Holmgren is known for elite instincts, winning attributes and is a key part of the Thunder’s historically great defense. He contested 93% of his opponent’s shot attempts as the closest defender, the second-highest rate in the league since the start of last season. He led the NBA in field goal percentage allowed on layups and dunks last season among players to contest 100-plus shots, according to GeniusIQ. He also allowed the lowest field goal percentage (33%) of anyone who defended at least 40 shots in this year’s NBA Finals, per ESPN tracking.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the 2024-25 NBA champions. The Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers in Sunday’s Game 7, 103-91, behind a dominant second-half defensive performance and a star showing from 2024-25 MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Gilgeous-Alexander had 29 points, 12 assists, five rebounds, two blocks and one steal in the series-clincher. While he didn’t light it up from the field shooting just 8-27 field goal attempts and missing 10 three-pointers, he got it done at the free throw line as he has all year long, making 11-of-12 at the stripe.

Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t do it alone as Jalen Williams pitched in 20 points and Chet Holmgren added 18 points, eight rebounds and an NBA Finals Game 7 record five blocked shots.

The Indiana Pacers put up a good fight, considering they lost Tyrese Haliburton early in the game to an Achilles injury. Haliburton hit three big three-pointers before he went down. The Pacers just kept grinding.

T.J. McConnell stepped up again with 16 points, and Benedict Mathurin led the Pacers in scoring with 24 points, with both players coming off the bench. The Pacers managed to take a one-point lead into halftime, but the Thunder defense in the second half was just too much to overcome as the Thunder forced 21 turnovers while just turning the ball over seven times on offense.

McConnell was the only Pacer to score during a long stretch in the third, and the Thunder extended the lead to as much as 22 in the fourth quarter before a late push by the Pacers made the final score look closer than it felt.

This is the Thunder’s first championship since the franchise relocated to Oklahoma (the Seattle Supersonics won the title in 1979). This year’s Thunder team is the youngest team to win a championship in four decades, so there will be a lot of pressure on the team to repeat next year, just as people expected a return trip to the Finals by the 2024 NBA champion Boston Celtics.

The NBA Finals are set to have two fresh teams as the Indiana Pacers are making the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, and the Oklahoma City Thunder are making their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2012.

The NBA didn’t use to have jersey patch sponsors. When the league moved to Nike as the NBA’s official uniform and apparel marker in 2017, jersey sponsorships came into play. Oftentimes, franchises choose a local tie-in for their jersey sponsor.

Who Is Sponsoring The Indiana Pacers?

The Pacers have an eye-grabbing sponsorship patch on their jersey as the Pacers sponsor, Spokenote, includes a fully functional QR code that unlocks Pacers content for fans, including some that can’t be seen anywhere else.

The team announced the sponsorship in January 2024, calling the Pacers the first major professional sports franchise in the United States to sport a QR code-like jersey patch.

Spokenote is an Indiana-based tech startup that allows users to pair videos with a unique code. Personal users have used the technology to enhance thank you notes, greeting cards, home deliveries and other personal interactions, while businesses use Spokenote to engage their stakeholders and customers.

The Pacers won the 2024 NBA Changemaker of the Year award for the partnership with Spokenote and creating the first scannable code patch on an NBA jersey.

Who Is Sponsoring The Oklahoma City Thunder?

The sponsor for the Thunder is Love’s Travel Stops, which is a truck-stop chain that was founded in Western Oklahoma. Their heart-shaped branding is adorned on each Thunder jersey. The Love’s heart logo is the only jersey sponsor the franchise has had, which is somewhat of a rarity across the NBA.

Love’s has partnered with the franchise long before the NBA allowed jersey sponsors, so the highway hospitality giant jumped at the opportunity to have their logo on the Thunder uniforms.

Love’s and the Thunder announced they extended their partnership in April 2023. The expanded partnership brought the logo patch beyond Thunder jerseys to include youth jerseys for the YMCA Thunder Basketball League, which meant YMCA athletes in Oklahoma got to wear the exact same jerseys as their favorite team.

The comeback kids tried their hardest, but couldn’t pull off one more miracle.

The Oklahoma City Thunder took a 3-2 lead over the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals, winning 120-109. The Thunder led by as much as 18, and despite making the game close at times, the Pacers never led in the second half.

Jalen Williams led the way for OKC, finishing with 40 points and six rebounds on 14-25 from the field. NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 31 points and ten assists.

Williams also finished with a game-high 14 points.

“I’m blessed to be in a situation where everybody wants everyone to succeed,” Williams said. “It’s a fortunate situation that I get to be in.”

Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton injured his calf in the first quarter and was limping off the court. He returned in the second quarter but was impacted by the injury.

Haliburton finished with just four points, his lowest total of both the Finals and the playoffs.

“It’s the Finals, man. I’ve worked my whole life to be here, and I want to be out there to compete,” Haliburton said.

Pascal Siakam was the Pacers’ leading scorer, finishing with 28 points on 9-15 from the field. T.J. McConnell led all bench players with 18 points off the bench.

Game six is on Thursday in Indiana. If the Thunder win, they become the 2025 NBA Champions. If the Pacers win, they force a game seven.

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s chances were dwindling as their 18-point lead had gone all the way down to just a two-point lead when the ball swung to Jalen Williams on the right wing.

Williams, a first-time All-Star in his third season, rose to the moment by rattling in a 3-pointer to halt the Indiana Pacers’ momentum.

It was the most important moment of the most impressive performance of Williams’ budding career, a 40-point outing to lead the Thunder to a 120-109 win in Monday’s pivotal Game 5 of the NBA Finals. That 3-pointer sparked an 18-6 run that put the game away for the Thunder and put the franchise in a prime position to win its first championship since moving to Oklahoma City, as teams that win Game 5 after tying the series 2-2 have a significant chance to win it all.

“He was really gutsy tonight,” 2025 MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “He stepped into big plays. Felt like every time we needed a shot, he made it. He wasn’t afraid. He was fearless tonight.”

Gilgeous-Alexander delivered another outstanding performance, scoring 31 points, dishing out 10 assists, blocking 2 shots and coming up with a pair of steals that helped fuel the fourth quarter run. It was his 15th 30-point performance of this playoff run, a total exceeded during a single postseason by only Michael Jordan in 1992 and Hakeem Olajuwon in 1995.

But as much as Gilgeous-Alexander steals the show every night for the Thunder, Game 5 was Williams’ show to steal.

The 24-year-old set a new playoff career high with 40 points on 14-of-25 shooting, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, topping his 34-point performance in the Thunder’s Game 4 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals. He put himself in some exclusive company, becoming the third-youngest player to score at least 40 points in a Finals game, trailing only Magic Johnson and Russell Westbrook.

“It’s something more that I’ll look back on later than worry about what kind [of] statement it makes,” said Williams postgame, who also had six rebounds and four assists in the win. “I think the only statement we have right now is we’re up 3-2 and we have to still go earn another win.

The NBA Finals are underway between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. Both franchises are competing for their first NBA Finals championship.

Each NBA team since 2017, when Nike became the NBA’s official apparel maker, has had jersey sponsorships.

The Thunder and Pacers each have logos on their jerseys that make sense for their franchise and are unique to them.

Oklahoma City Thunder Jersey Sponsor

Love’s Travel Stops is the jersey sponsor for the Thunder. The company is the only jersey sponsor the Thunder have ever had.

In April 2023, the Thunder and Love’s agreed to extend their partnership, adding their logo to youth athlete jerseys in Oklahoma.

The company was founded in Oklahoma 61 years ago. Their headquarters are in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Indiana Pacers Jersey Sponsor

The Pacers have arguably the most unique jersey sponsor logo in the NBA. The sponsor is Spokenote, which has a QR code placed on Pacers jerseys that unlocks content for Pacers fans.

The team has been the jersey sponsor for the Pacers since January 2024 and helped the Pacers become the first team with a functional QR code on a jersey.

Spokenote is based in Indiana and is a company that allows consumers to pair videos with a QR code.

Team jerseys can be purchased online at official team stores.

The Oklahoma City Thunder evened the NBA Finals on Sunday night, beating the Indiana Pacers 123-107. It was a full team effort as five Thunder players scored double-digit points as the Thunder were able to bounce back after the loss in Game 1 to the Pacers, tying the series 1-1 before going to Indianapolis.

2025 MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 34 points, which puts him in historic company.

Sunday night marked Gilgeous-Alexander’s ninth consecutive home playoff game with at least 30 points, which makes him one of only two players in NBA history to score at least 30 points in nine straight home playoff games, alongside Wilt Chamberlain (per Greg Harvey of StatsPerform). Entering Game 2, Gilgeous-Alexander was tied with Hall of Famers like Michael Jordan, Jerry West and Bob Pettit with eight straight games scoring at least 30 points, according to Stathead.

It was a massive win for the 2025 MVP, but it was also a huge win for the Thunder, as those points contributed to the Thunder’s Game 2 victory over the Pacers. The Thunder could have easily lost all momentum after losing due to Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winning shot to give the Pacers the lead with 0.3 seconds left in Game 1. Instead, the Thunder bounced back and played with intentionality and intensity to ensure the series was tied entering Game 3.

“I’m being myself,” said Gilgeous-Alexander, whose 72 points in the series are the most by a player in his first two Finals games, surpassing Hall of Famer Allen Iverson in 2001 by a point. “I don’t think I tried to reinvent the wheel or step up to the plate with a different mindset. Just try to attack the game the right way. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that so far.”

It was Gilgeous-Alexander’s 12th 30-point performance during these playoffs, which surpasses Kevin Durant in 2014 for the most in franchise postseason history.

He had a very efficient outing, shooting 11 of 21 from the field, after a Game 1 that saw him miss 16 field goal attempts. His performance on Sunday set the tone early and steadied the Thunder just about every time the Pacers tried to make a run.

Game 3 is set for Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time, and Sunday’s win guarantees Gilgeous-Alexander a shot at breaking Chamberlain’s record by scoring 30 points in 10 straight home playoff games.

Former NBA star forward Shawn Kemp pleaded guilty to an assault charge for shooting at two men inside a vehicle in a Washington state mall parking lot.

Kemp pleaded guilty, as part of his plea agreement, to the second-degree assault charge in Pierce County Superior Court, according to the county Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The Toyota 4Runner, the men were inside, and another vehicle was damaged in the shooting, but they were not hurt.

Kemp was initially charged with one count of first-degree assault with a firearm enhancement, but prosecutors last week added another count of assault as well as a drive-by shooting charge, according to the Seattle Times. Convictions on those charges could have led to a lengthy prison term.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Howe recommended that Kemp be sentenced to nine months in jail, one year of Department of Corrections supervision and support after he is released, and pay restitution. Kemp will be sentenced in August.

“Shawn is committed to moving forward in a positive direction,” Kemp’s attorney, Tim Leary, told the Times. “He was presented with an offer from the state that allows him to take responsibility, but I think also recognizes the self-defense nature of how this transpired.”

Howe wrote, in a statement explaining the plea agreement, that because of the two witnesses’ past crimes of dishonesty and the “fact that those people were illegally in possession” of Kemp’s belongings, the case should be resolved short of trial.

Kemp cannot have a firearm and will be required to provide a sample for a law enforcement DNA database as a part of his plea deal.

Kemp debuted in the NBA during the 1989-90 season as a 20-year-old who never played college basketball. He was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics, who are now the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has played for Cleveland, Portland and Orlando, as he was known for his high-flying dunks.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have punched their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012, becoming the second-youngest team (average age of 25.6 years old) to advance to the Finals, trailing only the Portland Trail Blazers’ 1976-77 championship team, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The Thunder crushed the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals with a 124-94 victory.

The Thunder were able to prove that they can handle the playoff prosperity and celebrated another big step toward their championship aspirations with a boisterous sellout crowd at the Patcom Center.

“The focus through the distraction of a closeout game to go to the Finals is what was most impressive,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said postgame. “I mean, they were laser-focused today, and that allowed our best to come to the surface.”

The Thunder jumped to a 17-point lead in the first quarter, when the Thunder held the Timberwolves to nine points, Minnesota’s fewest in any quarter this season and in the franchise’s playoff history. The Thunder had a 65-32 halftime lead after the Timberwolves had more turnovers (14) than made field goals (12) against the Thunder’s defense, which ranks number one in the league this season.

“It almost seemed like we did everything that we were supposed to do,” said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander postgame, who had 34 points and eight assists on his Western Conference finals MVP performance. “We made it tough on the guys we were supposed to make it tough on. Well, I thought it was tough for everybody. We were clicking on all cylinders as far as what their tendencies are, what our game plan is, how we want to impact the game, how we want to impact the ball.”

Gilegous-Alexander generated 32 points in the first half, matching Minnesota’s total. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams combined for 30 points in the half and combined for 41 in total.

“It’s great to feel like you didn’t leave anything on the table,” Holmgren said postgame.

The Thunder wait on the winner of the Eastern Conference finals, which the Indiana Pacers lead 3-1 over the New York Knicks.

The Minnesota Timberwolves made their return to the Western Conference Finals after beating the Golden State Warriors in six games in the Western Conference Semifinals. In game one of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Timberwolves struggled to make much of an impact on offense as the Thunder won 114-88.

The Thunder’s challenge to defend the Timberwolves and star guard Anthony Edwards was met by forcing the Timberwolves to turn the ball over 19 times, which turned into 31 points for the Thunder. The Thunder defense in the paint was lights out, giving up only 20 points on 43.5% shooting in the key. The Timberwolves were shooting 42.1% beyond the arc to start the game, but eventually the Thunder were able to lock the three-ball down, allowing the Timberwolves to shoot 21.9% beyond the arc the rest of the game.

The Timberwolves only had two players in double figures as Julius Randle had 28 points and eight rebounds while shooting 69.2% from the field and 83.3% from three. Randle struggled to hold on to the ball, turning it over five times, which was the most on the team. Edwards struggled in this game, accounting for 18 points, nine rebounds and four turnovers. He shot 38.46% from the field and 37.5% from three. Edwards went back to the locker room after turning his ankle on a landing but was able to return to the floor midway through the second quarter.

“I definitely got to shoot more. I took 13 f—– shots,” Edwards said postgame. “But I’ll say probably just get off the ball a little more. Play without the ball. I think that would be the answer, because playing on the ball, they’re just going to double and sit in the gaps all day. So I’ve got to go watch some film and take it apart and figure it out.”

Enlightened by the defense, the Thunder took the lead with a 10-0 run that turned into a 17-2 run with Kenrish Williams hitting shots off the bench. Once the fourth quarter started, the Thunder were up by ten points and won the second half by 30 points.

Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander started off cold in the first half, shooting 2-of-13 in the first half, but was able to bounce back, shooting 8-of-14 in the second half. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a game-high 31 points and led his team to a game-one win. The Thunder shot 50% from the field and 52.38% from three while having four players in double figures, including Gilgeous-Alexander.

“I didn’t particularly change my mindset, honestly,” Gilgeous-Alexander said postgame. “I tried to continue to be aggressive, trust my work.”

Game two of the Western Conference finals is set for Thursday, May 22, where the Timberwolves will be looking to steal a win on the road from Oklahoma City.

“It’s Game 1,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said postgame. “They won at home. Congrats to them. They played really well. There’s another game in two days.”

After a hard-fought series, the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Denver Nuggets in seven games to reach the Western Conference finals, which they haven’t done since 2016. After a long series, the players can finally relax and prepare for the next series, except star forward Jalen Williams left this series with a gift from the NBA.

The Oklahoma City Thunder star forward was given a $25,000 fine from the NBA on Monday for wearing a shirt that said, “F— art, let’s dance,” to his postgame press conference after the Thunder’s series win over the Nuggets on Sunday.

The NBA officially fined the star forward for “wearing clothing with profane language” during the postgame media session. This policy is enforced consistently to maintain a standard of proper behavior and respect within the league.

In game seven against the Nuggets, Williams recorded 24 points, seven assists and five rebounds in the Thunder’s victory over the Nuggets, which will take them to the Western Conference finals, where they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves to see who will represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals.

In the regular season, the Thunder split the season series against the Timberwolves 2-2. Williams averaged 19.8 points, 6.8 assists and 4.8 rebounds against the Timberwolves.

The two franchises have not faced each other in the playoffs since 1998, when the Oklahoma City Thunder was based in Seattle and called the Seattle SuperSonics. The SuperSonics beat the Timberwolves in five games in a best-of-five series in the first round.

Game one of the Western Conference finals is set to begin on Tuesday night in Oklahoma City.

The Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Memphis Grizzlies despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, an MVP finalist, underperforming early on in the series.

With 38 points on 13-of-24 shooting, Gilgeous-Alexander closed out the Grizzlies in Game 4, leading the Thunder to a 117-115 win.

“I didn’t think he played any different,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said. “I just think he got into a groove.”

Despite shooting only 35.3% — his worst three-game stretch of the season — Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder blew out the Grizzlies in both home games and pulled off a 29-point comeback in Game 3.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who led the league with 32.7 points per game on 51.9% shooting this season, started Game 4 with the hot hand, hitting his first seven shots and scoring 16 points in the first quarter.

“I’m impressed with my level to, I guess, stay with it,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “In the past, I, for sure, would’ve turned down the aggressiveness a little bit. I think I made a jump as far as that this year. That’s something I’m definitely proud of. I try not to focus on the results and just focus on my mental development. I think I’ve taken a step forward in that, and I had a night like tonight because of it.

“In the past, I definitely would’ve shied away from the moment because of where my shooting was headed. I think I’ve taken a step mentally, but I think I’ve done so all season and been paid off in the moment in the night where we needed it.”

First-time All-Star Jalen Williams delivered for the Thunder throughout the series, putting up 23.3 points and 5.3 assists per game and closed out the Grizzlies with a 23-point, five-assist performance in Game 4.

Oklahoma City survived a cold night from three — making only seven-of-35 — thanks to Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, and an aggressive defense that forced 22 Memphis turnovers and converted them into 32 points. The Grizzlies were without Ja Morant, sidelined by a left hip contusion.

The Thunder racked up 103 points off turnovers against the Grizzlies.

The Thunder finished the season with the NBA’s top-ranked defense and led the league in points off turnovers at 21.8 per game.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s three consecutive rough shooting games were unexpected, though his teammates were quick to defend his overall impact before the series finale.

“I think he played a hell of a series,” Chet Holmgren said. “He was making the right plays all series, making the right reads, trusting people, and that’s been really helpful, not only for myself, but for [Williams], for everybody down the list. And I don’t see that changing. He’s going to continue to play great. And when that ball’s going in at a high clip, you guys are going to be up here asking me how special he was that night.”

The Thunder are set to take on the winner of the Denver Nuggets-Los Angeles Clippers series in the second round.

A scuffle led to multiple ejections in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 146-132 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

With three minutes remaining in the third quarter, Spurs forward Julian Champagnie attempted to create space from Thunder forward Kenrich Williams by swinging his elbows. In the process, he caught Williams in the jaw before passing to Stephon Castle, who found Jeremy Sochan for a dunk. As that play developed, Williams and Champagnie got into a shoving match near the scorer’s table.

After appearing to be struck by – or nearly struck – by Champagnie’s elbow, Williams responded by stepping up to him chest-to-chest. The tension quickly escalated as teammates swarmed in, turning the situation into a frenzy of pushing, shoving, and shouting.

“When people are aggressive, there are a lot of coincidental elbows or contact,” Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson said. “I don’t really know who was at fault, to be honest. But it just looked like that was what initiated it. And then there was the response on both ends. [It] just looked like Kenrich Williams was being aggressive, and Julian was opening up. I don’t know if that’s an offensive foul now. I don’t know where that line is of what space you’re allowed.”

Sochan and Thunder forward Luguentz Dort held onto each other’s jerseys as they exchanged heated remarks in a confrontation that involved more than 10 players, including Castle, De’Aaron Fox, Keldon Johnson, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins.

“I went for a dunk, and then all I see is just everyone going to one spot,” Sochan said. “So, like I had to go to the same spot. It was a little scuffle. I think it was pretty playful. It wasn’t anything too serious. Yeah, it kind of evolved. I had to react a little bit in the playful scuffle.”

The altercation didn’t escalate to punches, and no injuries occurred. Following a review, the officials ejected Williams, Champagnie, and Dort after assessing technical fouls, while Sochan picked up a tech but was allowed to stay in the game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are converting two-way guard Ajay Mitchell to a two-year, $6 million contract. He initially signed a two-way deal in July.

Mitchell quickly established himself as a key part of head coach Mark Daigneault‘s rotation for the Thunder. Through 34 games, he has scored 6.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Among rookies, he is one of just two, shooting at least 50% from the field and 40% from three. However, a turf toe injury that required surgery has kept him out for the past month.

His procedure was disclosed on Jan. 10, with a re-evaluation scheduled around late March or early April.

Oklahoma City freed up the 15th roster spot after waiving Daniel Theis, whom they had acquired from the New Orleans Pelicans in a salary dump.

Mitchell’s contract conversion completes the Thunder’s roster. If he hadn’t been converted, he would have been unable to play in the postseason.

Oklahoma City has frequently converted two-way players in recent years, and Mitchell is the latest to benefit. He now joins Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins, who signed a five-year $47 million deal last summer after being the 55th pick in the 2021 draft.

By securing Mitchell’s contract, the Thunder allowed rookie center Branden Carlson to re-sign on a two-way deal. He first joined the team in November, filling the team’s final roster spot before being waived ahead of his contract becoming guaranteed.

The Thunder brought him back on consecutive 10-day contracts, with his final deal expiring after Oklahoma City’s Jan. 29 loss to the Golden State Warriors.

Carlson has made at least one three-pointer in each of his last eight games. Through 5 total games with the Thunder this season, he’s putting up 3.1 points and 1.7 rebounds while shooting 42.9% from three.