OKLAHOMA CITY — With the NBA Finals in sight, the Oklahoma City Thunder showed no signs of nerves — only dominance.
On Wednesday night, the Thunder dismantled the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-94 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, officially punching their ticket to the Finals for the first time since 2012. Fueled by a ferocious start and a smothering defense, OKC left no doubt, earning a blowout victory in front of a deafening crowd at Paycom Center.
“It’s not just about winning, it’s about staying focused through the noise,” said head coach Mark Daigneault. “And this group? They were locked in.”
The Thunder wasted no time taking control. They raced to a 17-point lead in the first quarter while holding Minnesota to just nine points — the fewest the Wolves have scored in any quarter all season and the lowest in their playoff history.
By halftime, it was a 65-32 Thunder advantage, and the Timberwolves had more turnovers (14) than field goals (12). OKC’s top-ranked defense was relentless, forcing mistake after mistake and turning those errors into transition buckets.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 34 points and 8 assists, earning Western Conference Finals MVP honors. He had 32 points in the first half alone — matching Minnesota’s total — and was surgical on both ends of the floor.
“We just did everything right,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “We made things tough for them, stuck to the game plan, and once we got stops, we ran and had fun. That’s when we’re at our best.”
Chet Holmgren added 22 points, and Jalen Williams chipped in 19. The trio combined for 81 points as the Thunder continued to showcase why they’re one of the most complete and dangerous teams in the league.
“It feels good to walk away knowing we played our best,” Holmgren said. “We left nothing on the table.”
The second half was more of a celebration than a contest, with fans soaking in the moment and the Thunder maintaining full control. This win marked Oklahoma City’s fourth 30-point playoff victory this postseason — more than any team in a single postseason in NBA history. Their previous closeout win? A 32-point rout of the Denver Nuggets in Game 7.
Only two teams — the 1987 Lakers and the 2008 Celtics — have ever recorded multiple 30+ point closeout wins in one playoff run. Both went on to win titles.
Now, the Thunder await their Finals opponent, with the Indiana Pacers leading the New York Knicks 3-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Despite the confetti and cheers, Gilgeous-Alexander made it clear: the job’s not done.
“This is great, but this isn’t the finish line,” said the newly crowned MVP. “We’ve got four more wins to get. Four tough games. We need to be at our absolute best.”
For a team with an average age just over 25, the Thunder are defying expectations — and doing it with poise, unity, and purpose. The road to the championship goes through Oklahoma City now, and they’re ready for whatever comes next.
