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Luguentz Dort Luguentz Dort hits four three-pointers in Game 5
Wed, May 28, 2025, 5:18 PM
Luguentz Dort accumulated 12 points (4-of-11 FGs), four rebounds, one assist, three steals and four three-pointers in Wednesday's Game 5 win over the Timberwolves.
Analysis: A pest defensively throughout the Western Conference Finals, Dort picked a good time to hit double figures for the first time in this series. He dropped four high-arcing three-pointers on Wednesday, and the 12 points are the most he's scored since Game 5 of Oklahoma City's second-round series against the Nuggets. Regardless of who the Thunder play in the NBA Finals, Dort will be the first line of defense against the opposing team's best perimeter player. That will either be Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton or New York's Jalen Brunson. |
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Jalen Williams Jalen Williams masses 19 points, full stat line
Wed, May 28, 2025, 5:14 PM
Jalen Williams shot 7-of-14 from the field and 4-of-5 from the foul line in Wednesday's Game 5 win over the Timberwolves, finishing with 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists, one steal, one block and one three-pointer.
Analysis: Williams was not as dominant as he was in Game 4, but there was no need for him to be. Minnesota only scored nine points in the first quarter, and the only question at that point was what the final margin would be. Williams recorded a complete stat line in the series decider and shot 50 percent from the field. He and the Thunder will now get some time off, as Game 1 of the NBA Finals is not until Thursday, June 5. |
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Chet Holmgren Chet Holmgren tallies 22 points, seven rebounds
Wed, May 28, 2025, 5:10 PM
Chet Holmgren tallied 22 points (8-of-13 FGs, 4-of-6 FTs), seven rebounds, three blocks and two three-pointers in Wednesday's Game 5 win over the Timberwolves.
Analysis: Holmgren closed out the Western Conference Finals with a flourish, surpassing 20 points in Games 4 and 5. He finished Wednesday's clincher one blocked shot shy of a complete stat line, decisively winning the frontcourt matchups with Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert. He'll face another challenge in the NBA Finals against either Indiana or New York, but the second-year forward/center has proven capable of meeting the moment thus far. |
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Gilgeous-Alexander scores 34 points in clincher
Wed, May 28, 2025, 5:05 PM
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shot 14-of-25 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line in Wednesday's Game 5 win over the Thunder, scoring 34 points with seven rebounds, eight assists, two steals and two three-pointers.
Analysis: For the first time since 2012, the Thunder are headed to the NBA Finals. As expected, Gilgeous-Alexander led the way, surpassing the 30-point mark for the second consecutive game. However, unlike Game 4, in which he shot 13-of-30 from the field, the NBA's Most Valuable Player was incredibly efficient on Wednesday. He shot 56 percent from the field and committed just two turnovers in the Game 5 rout. Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will not play again until June 5 when they host Game 1 of the NBA Finals against either Indiana or New York. |
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Chet Holmgren Chet Holmgren records 21/7/1/1/3 stat line vs. MIN
Mon, May 26, 2025, 5:37 PM
Chet Holmgren accumulated 21 points (9-of-14 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), seven rebounds, one assist, one steal, three blocks and two three-pointers in Monday's Game 4 win over the Timberwolves.
Analysis: While Holmgren scored 22 points in Oklahoma City's Game 2 win over the Timberwolves, that was also a game in which he failed to record a steal or blocked shot. Chet was far more impactful as a defender in Game 4, with the four defensive contributions being the most in a game for him since Game 3 of the second-round series against Denver. Oklahoma City again decided to go small to begin the second half, starting Alex Caruso (10/2/1/2 with two three-pointers in 33 minutes) alongside Holmgren instead of Isaiah Hartenstein. While Minnesota did manage to climb back into the game following that change, the ability to go small is one reason why the Thunder are so dangerous. They'll host Game 5 on Wednesday. |
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Jalen Williams Williams scores 34 points in Game 4 victory
Mon, May 26, 2025, 5:31 PM
Jalen Williams finished Monday's Game 4 win over the Timberwolves with 34 points (13-of-24 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), three rebounds, five assists, two steals and six three-pointers.
Analysis: Williams was outstanding in Game 4, joining Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to become the first Thunder teammates to score 30 points or more in the same playoff game since Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in 2014. J-Dub scored Oklahoma City's first five points and never seemed to slow down, finishing with his first 30-point game since Game 3 of the second-round series against the Nuggets. Add in the assists and steals, and Monday night was a great time to have Williams in either playoff fantasy or DFS lineups. Oklahoma City hosts Game 5 on Wednesday. |
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander SGA drops 40, Thunder one win from NBA Finals
Mon, May 26, 2025, 5:28 PM
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander accounted for 40 points (13-of-30 FGs, 12-of-14 FTs), nine rebounds, 10 assists, one steal and two three-pointers in Monday's Game 4 win over the Timberwolves.
Analysis: Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are one win away from the NBA Finals, and extra possessions were a significant factor in Game 4. SGA grabbed four offensive rebounds, and Oklahoma City finished with 19 as a team. Add in 21 Minnesota turnovers, and the Thunder attempted 11 more field goals than the Timberwolves. Gilgeous-Alexander's 30 field goal attempts and 40 points were playoff career highs, and he was masterful in crunch time, looking for his shot and setting up teammates for clean looks. OKC will aim to close out the series on Wednesday night at home. |
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander SGA falls flat with 14 points in Game 3 defeat
Sat, May 24, 2025, 5:08 PM
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 14 points (4-of-13 FGs), two rebounds, six assists, one block and two three-pointers in Saturday's Game 3 loss to the Timberwolves.
Analysis: Gilgeous-Alexander turned in his lowest-scoring performance of the entire season in this one. It was the lowest point total for the 26-year-old point guard since last March. He scored more than twice as many points in each of the first two games of the series. SGA was wearing a microphone for ESPN's coverage of the game and could be heard on the bench in the fourth quarter saying they had a great game and we had a bad game. That might be putting it mildly as the Thunder lost Game 3 by a staggering 42 points. SGA and the Thunder will be looking to play better and take it from there in Game 4 on Monday. |
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Chet Holmgren Chet Holmgren chips in with 22 points vs. MIN
Thu, May 22, 2025, 5:34 PM
Chet Holmgren tallied 22 points (8-of-17 FGs, 5-of-6 FTs), four rebounds, two assists and one three-pointer in Thursday's Game 2 win over the Timberwolves.
Analysis: For the first time since Game 3 of Oklahoma City's first-round series against the Grizzlies, Holmgren surpassed the 20-point mark. While the rebounds were limited and he did not record any defensive stats, the 7-foot-1 forward gave Oklahoma City excellent minutes on Thursday. Thus far, Holmgren has outplayed Minnesota forward Julius Randle, which is one reason Oklahoma City heads to Minnesota with a two-game-to-none lead. Game 3 is on Saturday night. |
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Jalen Williams Jalen Williams records 26/10/5/1 line in Game 2
Thu, May 22, 2025, 5:32 PM
Jalen Williams accumulated 26 points (12-of-20 FGs, 0-of-1 FTs), 10 rebounds, five assists, one steal and two three-pointers in Thursday's Game 2 win over the Timberwolves.
Analysis: Having struggled for most of Oklahoma City's second-round series against the Nuggets, Williams has played well through the first two games of the Western Conference Finals. After making history in Game 1 by becoming the youngest player to drop at least 15 points, five assists, five steals and no turnovers in a playoff game, J-Dub had a better night offensively and recorded a double-double. Oklahoma City hopes Williams can take this play on the road, as they visit Minnesota for Game 3 on Saturday. |
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Gilgeous-Alexander scores 38 in Game 2 victory
Thu, May 22, 2025, 5:28 PM
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shot 12-of-21 from the field and 13-of-15 from the foul line in Thursday's Game 2 win over the Timberwolves, scoring 38 points with three rebounds, eight assists, three steals and one three-pointer.
Analysis: One day after being named the NBA's Most Valuable Player, Gilgeous-Alexander showed on Thursday why he was a deserving recipient of the award. Not only did he shoot over 50 percent from the field, but SGA attempted 15 free throws. One of the NBA's best at getting to the foul line, Gilgeous-Alexander attempted 29 free throws in the first two games of the Western Conference Finals, making 24. Simply put, if Minnesota is to have any chance of getting back into the series, they'll need to do a far better job of defending SGA without fouling. Game 3 is on Saturday night. |
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins 2024-25 NBA MVP award
Wed, May 21, 2025, 10:07 AM
Shams Charania on Twitter
ESPN's Shams Charania reports that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the 2024-25 NBA MVP.
Analysis: In a two-man race for the NBA's most prestigious regular season award, SGA emerged victorious behind averages of 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.0 block and 2.1 triples. He shot 51.9 percent from the floor, 89.8 percent from the charity stripe and 37.5 percent from beyond the arc. Gilgeous-Alexander powered Oklahoma City to the NBA's best record with a franchise-high 68 wins and the top seed in the Western Conference. SGA finished as fantasy's third ranked player on a per-game basis behind only Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama. |
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Jalen Williams Jalen Williams has 19/8/5 line in Game 1 victory
Tue, May 20, 2025, 5:20 PM
Jalen Williams had 19 points (7-of-18 FGs), eight rebounds, five assists, five steals and one three-pointer in Game 1 against the Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Analysis: Williams, 24, became the youngest player in NBA history with at least 15 points, five assists, five steals and zero turnovers in a playoff game. Much like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he struggled in the first half but was a major factor in the Thunder blowing out the Timberwolves in the second half. While Williams has struggled with inconsistency in these playoffs, when he turns it on, the Thunder are tough to beat. |
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has 31 points in Game 1
Tue, May 20, 2025, 5:15 PM
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 points (10-of-27 FGs), five rebounds, nine assists and three steals in the Thunder's 114-88 victory over the Timberwolves in Game 1 on Tuesday.
Analysis: Gilgeous-Alexander struggled in the first half, but the Thunder only trailed by four points. In the second half, he erupted with 20 points on 14 shots, four rebounds and five assists. The Thunder won the third quarter by 14 and the fourth quarter by 16. The overwhelming favorite for this year's MVP award was electric in the second half as the Thunder put Game 1 away at home. Oklahoma City is now three wins away from reaching the NBA Finals with Game 2 on Thursday. |
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Alex Caruso Alex Caruso records 11 points, three steals Sunday
Sun, May 18, 2025, 12:38 PM
Alex Caruso tallied 11 points (5-of-7 FTs), three assists, three steals and one three-pointer in 26 minutes in Sunday's Game 7 win over the Nuggets.
Analysis: Caruso was one of the âgame changersâ in Game 7, as the decision to have him defend Nikola Jokic shifted momentum in Oklahoma City's favor. The veteran guard did not record any rebounds, but he made the most of his scoring opportunities and was responsible for three steals. How the Thunder use Caruso in the Western Conference Finals remains to be seen, but he'll have a crucial role off the bench. The Thunder host Minnesota in Game 1 on Tuesday. |
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Chet Holmgren Chet Holmgren corrals 11 rebounds in blowout
Sun, May 18, 2025, 12:34 PM
Chet Holmgren finished Sunday's Game 7 win over the Nuggets with 13 points (4-of-9 FGs, 5-of-6 FTs), 11 rebounds, one assist, one steal and one blocked shot in 28 minutes.
Analysis: Holmgren hit double digits in rebounds in five games this series, recording four double-doubles. While he missed all three of his three-point attempts in Game 7, the second-year forward/center filled the stat sheet otherwise. Holmgren will face a far different defensive challenge in the Western Conference Finals, as Minnesota's Julius Randle is a more skilled offensive talent than Denver's Aaron Gordon. Game 1 of the series is on Tuesday night. |
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Jalen Williams Jalen Williams bounces back, scores 24 points
Sun, May 18, 2025, 12:31 PM
Jalen Williams amassed 24 points (10-of-17 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), five rebounds, seven assists, one steal and two three-pointers in 33 minutes in Sunday's Game 7 win over the Nuggets.
Analysis: After playing poorly in Oklahoma City's Game 6 defeat on Thursday, Williams shouldered the blame for the result. He struggled in this series, so it had to feel great to play as well as he did on Sunday. Williams shot over 50 percent from the field and finished one blocked shot shy of a complete stat line. He'll need to be more consistent in the Western Conference Finals if the Thunder are to advance past the Timberwolves, who visit Oklahoma City for Game 1 on Tuesday. |
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 35 in Game 7 rout
Sun, May 18, 2025, 12:29 PM
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shot 12-of-19 from the field and 8-of-9 from the foul line in Sunday's Game 7 victory over the Nuggets, scoring 35 points with three rebounds, four assists, three steals, one block and three three-pointers in 36 minutes.
Analysis: After scoring 32 points in Game 6, Gilgeous-Alexander was three better in Sunday's decisive Game 7. Scoring efficiently, the Thunder star leads the league with seven games of 30 points or more in these playoffs. Gilgeous-Alexander will look to add to his tally when the Thunder host the Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday. |
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Jalen Williams Jalen Williams posts 6/7/10/3/1 line in Game 6
Thu, May 15, 2025, 5:27 PM
Jalen Williams turned in a full line on Thursday with six points (3-of-16 FGs), seven rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and one block in Game 6 against the Nuggets.
Analysis: JDub was able to contribute a well-rounded stat line, but he wasn't able to have much success as a scorer. That has been the story for most of this series; Williams was great in Game 3 and was efficient in Game 2, though they didn't need him to score much in that blowout win. However, between Games 1, 4, 5 and 6, Williams has shot below 40 percent from the field in each of them and below 30 percent in three of them. He has continued to find other ways to impact the game, but what they truly need is a better scoring performance out of him in Game 7 on Sunday. |
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander SGA scores 32 points, Thunder drop Game 6
Thu, May 15, 2025, 5:24 PM
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 32 points (11-of-16 FGs, 8-of-11 FTs), three rebounds, six assists and two three-pointers in a 119-107 loss to the Nuggets in Game 6 on Thursday.
Analysis: SGA carried the offensive load for OKC once again in this game, but he didn't get much help from his teammates. Gilgeous-Alexander has been unstoppable for most of this series, outside of Game 3. He has scored at least 30 points in four of the six games in this series, and this was his highest-scoring performance in Denver this season. They'll return home for Game 7 on Sunday. In a matchup between the two MVP candidates, expect SGA to be aggressive early on and have a monster performance. |
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