The Oklahoma City Thunder, sparked by 34 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, on Wednesday night advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012, routing the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-94.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA Most Valuable Player, added eight assists and seven rebounds as the Thunder captured the best-of-seven Western Conference Finals series 4-1 and are to host Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday next week.
“This is a step in the right direction, but we have a lot more work to do and we know that and that’s what we’re focused on so let’s buckle up and get ready,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do to get to our ultimate goal and this is not it. That’s all that I’m focused on.”
Photo: EPA-EFE
Oklahoma City are to face the Eastern Conference champions, either the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks, for the NBA title.
Gilgeous-Alexander, a 26-year-old Canadian who was named the series Most Valuable Player, could become the first NBA scoring champion since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 to win an NBA title in the same season.
Chet Holmgren added 22 points and Jalen Williams netted 19 for the Thunder, whose average age of 25.6 years makes them the youngest team in the NBA Finals since the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977.
“We have 17 dudes on the roster who will bring it every single game whether it’s a closeout game or not,” Holmgren said. “It’s a step in the journey. We still have a season to play [in the Finals], so we’re not done.”
Julius Randle led Minnesota with 24 points, while Anthony Edwards added 19 for the Timberwolves, who have never reached the NBA Finals.
“They came ready to play. We didn’t,” Edwards said. “They dominated the game from the tip.”
Oklahoma City have never won an NBA title, although the franchise won a crown as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979 before relocating in 2008, and the Thunder last reached the finals in 2012, losing to Miami.
The Thunder had the best record in the NBA this season at 68-14.
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