DE Sports Desk :
Newly crowned NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a commanding performance Thursday night, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 118-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves and a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals.
Presented with his MVP trophy in a pregame ceremony, Gilgeous-Alexander quickly shifted focus, pouring in 38 points along with eight assists and three rebounds. It marked his fifth consecutive playoff game with at least 30 points.
Backed by a raucous home crowd, the Thunder continued their dominant postseason run, registering their 60th double-digit win of the season. The team pulled away decisively in the third quarter, outscoring Minnesota by 14 to take firm control of the game.
Guard Alex Caruso praised his team’s relentless mindset: “It’s human nature to let off the gas, but we stayed aggressive. We built the lead in the first half and extended it after halftime.”
While Minnesota found hope in Anthony Edwards’ 32-point bounce-back performance, their overall shooting woes (41.4% from the field) and defensive lapses proved costly. Julius Randle struggled, contributing just six points on 2-of-11 shooting and sitting out the fourth quarter.
The Thunder’s defense shined, holding Edwards to 1-for-9 from beyond the arc and forcing key stops during pivotal stretches. Jalen Williams added 26 points and 10 rebounds, while rookie big man Chet Holmgren tallied 22 points, including a highlight-reel alley-oop dunk that capped the third-quarter surge.
Gilgeous-Alexander credited the team’s defensive intensity for their offensive rhythm: “It starts with getting stops. When we defend, we can play to our strengths—fast and in the open court.”
Game 3 shifts to Minneapolis on Saturday, with Timberwolves coach Chris Finch confident his team can respond: “Every minute in the series is a chance to adjust. We’ll regroup, look at the film, and be ready to fight in Game Three.”