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Philippines, 02 Jul 2025 |
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OK-C you in the Finals Soon, Indy or NY; Thunder Oust Minnesota in Five, 124-94 By Teodoro Medina Reynoso PhilBoxing.com Thu, 29 May 2025  Oklahoma City Thunder booked the first seat in the NBA Finals, winning their Western Conference final series over the Minnesota Timberwolves via a businesslike 124-94 thrashing in game five at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City Wednesday evening (Thursday morning Manila time). The Thunder dispensed with courtesy usually accorded a visitor, if any, by racing immediately to a 26-9 lead in the first quarter built around their big three: season MVP Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren with a little help from veteran Alex Caruso. With the game winding down, SGA and company were seen comfortably seated on the bench enjoying as they watched the reserves complete what they had started. It was not for the lack of trying on the part of Minnesota but the Timberwolves seemed overwhelmed by the Thunder's first quarter blitzkrieg that their main players Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle were pressured to find their game and rhythm ASAP to get back to the contest. The Timberwolves were able to score 23 points in the second quarter but failed to limit OKC which even intensified their production further by posting a high 39 points for a 65-32 half time bubble. What was noteworthy in OKC's sustained points production was that the Thunder did not have to resort to too much three points shooting to score that many as Alexander and Williams were able again to pierce Minnesota's zone and the big duo of Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein outplayed Rudy Gobert anew. Meanwhile Minnesota struggled on its offense with Mike Conley and Nickel Alexander-Walker unable to lend support to Edwards and Randle. Providing some bright lights however were Naz Reid and reserve Terrence Shannon Jr but they hardly made any difference. Minnesota improved somewhat in the third quarter outscoring OKC 30-23 but the Thunder's lead remained huge, 95-62. Midway through the final period, with the outcome already virtually decided, the two teams pulled out their starters and allowed the reserves to play out the game. Alexander led all scorers with 34 points. Holmgren had 22 points and Williams put in 19 points. Lue Dorf aside from playing nasty defense on Edwards, added 12 points. Randle took the scoring cudgels for Minnesota with 24 points as Edwards was limited to only 19 points. Reid and Shannon came off the bench and scored 11 points each. With the win, Oklahoma is now awaiting the winner of the Eastern Conference final series between Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks led by Indiana 3-1 with game five scheduled tomorrow in New York. Oklahoma has swept its two games series against both Indiana and New York during the regulars season. The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.  |
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