Thunder Make History with Blistering Run to NBA Finals
This wasn't just a win—it was a statement. On May 28, 2025, the Oklahoma City Thunder steamrolled the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-94, putting an exclamation mark on the Western Conference Finals and booking their first NBA Finals ticket since 2012. The mood in Oklahoma City? Electric. After years of being on the fringe, the Thunder grabbed the spotlight by finishing off Minnesota in five games, taking the series 4-1 in dominant fashion.
There's something about this Thunder squad that just feels different. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been at the heart of it all, steering the team with poise and jaw-dropping skill. They wrapped the regular season with a league-best 68-14 record and have only gotten stronger in the playoffs, now boasting a 12-4 postseason record. That rare blend of youth, grit, and confidence has seen them bulldoze through the competition, especially in front of their own fans where they've gone 7-1 during the playoffs.
Game 5 set the tone early. The Thunder raced to a 17-point lead in the first quarter and never looked back. The Timberwolves faced an uphill battle all night, never able to close the gap. Despite Anthony Edwards putting up a fight for Minnesota, the Oklahoma City Thunder were simply too much—fast, focused, and hungry for their shot at the trophy. Minnesota's hopes for a first Finals appearance fizzled, and their 4-3 postseason road record just wasn't enough to crack Oklahoma City's code at home.
Spotlight on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and What's Next
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't just chasing wins—he's chasing history. He’s in the running to become the first player since Steph Curry in 2015 to bag both the regular-season MVP and an NBA ring, all in one spring. Whether he's draining threes, slicing to the rim, or locking down on defense, his fingerprints are all over this Thunder resurgence. The rest of the roster has stepped up too, with role players finding ways to make big impacts at critical moments.
Not surprisingly, bookmakers saw this Thunder team coming. SportsLine’s Matt Severance had them as 8.5-point favorites before Game 5, with an over/under set at 220.5 points. Thunder fans, who’ve hung on through seasons of droughts and rebuilds, now get to see their team open the Finals at home on June 5—and you can bet the atmosphere will be raucous.
They’ll face the winner of the Eastern Conference battle between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks—two teams scrapping for their own place in history. For the Thunder, the past 13 years are suddenly in the rearview mirror. It’s all eyes on the biggest prize in basketball, and for the first time in a long time, Oklahoma City feels like the center of the NBA universe.
