WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 16: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates after hitting the game winning shot against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on November 16, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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.”
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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.
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