Thunder credit Wolves' 'physicality' in blowout loss in Game 3 - ESPN
MINNEAPOLIS — As excruciating as the most lopsided playoff loss in franchise history was for the Oklahoma City Thunder, it was pretty easy to explain.
Mark Daigneault Sport News
Edwards keys resounding Timberwolves' response in Game 3 win - ESPN
MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards had 30 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists in just three quarters to lead the reenergized Minnesota Timberwolves in a 143-101 victory over Oklahoma City on Saturday night in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals that cut the Thunder's lead in the series to 2-1.
Are the NBA playoffs too physical? Have the refs actually lost control? Here's what the data says - ESPN
ON MONDAY, AS the Oklahoma City Thunder prepared to open their Western Conference finals series against the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault sat at a table facing reporters and addressed a question about one of the most consequential storylines of the playoffs.
Thunder defense stifles Wolves, dominates in Game 1 victory - ESPN
OKLAHOMA CITY — After spending the previous seven games searching for solutions against the Denver Nuggets' variety of zone defenses, the Oklahoma City Thunder didn't make a smooth transition against the Minnesota Timberwolves' physical man-to-man schemes in the Western Conference finals opener.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder rout Wolves in West opener
OKLAHOMA CITY: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander overcame a slow start to score 31 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 114-88 home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Thunder roll into West finals with 125-93 rout of Nuggets in Game 7
OKLAHOMA CITY: The Oklahoma City Thunder grew up on Sunday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points, Jalen Williams added 24 and the Thunder rolled into the Western Conference finals, beating the Denver Nuggets 125-93 in Game 7. The top-seeded Thunder will host the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves starting Tuesday. It’s Oklahoma City’s first trip to the conference finals since 2016. Oklahoma City went a league-best 68-14 in the regular season, becoming the youngest team to win at least 60 games.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 25 points and leads Thunder past Denver 92-87 to tie series 2-2
DENVER: The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Denver Nuggets at their own game Sunday. The NBA’s youngest team made all the clutch plays in crunch time against an experienced squad teeming with a championship pedigree, knotting the second-round series with a 92-87 win in Game 4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored nine of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, pulling the top-seeded Thunder from the brink of a 3-1 deficit against a Denver team known for closing out games while winning six of its last seven playoff series — and the two tight games earlier in this series that resumes Tuesday night in Oklahoma City. About 36 hours after an exhausting overtime Game 3 Friday night, the early Mother’s Day tip-off produced an ugly first half that featured a combined 25 points in the first quarter and ended with OKC up 42-36 at the break. “Quick turnaround with an early game today, we made an intentional effort to use our depth today and get everybody going,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. Down by eight points early in the fourth quarter, the Thunder used an 11-0 run fueled by reserves Cason Wallace, who had a pair of 3-pointers, and Aaron Wiggins, who added another, to wrest control. Wallace’s second 3-pointer put Oklahoma City ahead for good at 75-73. “I really thought the difference in the game was their bench kind of lit a fuse for them,” Nuggets interim coach David Adelman said. “They made 3s ...
Cavs' Kenny Atkinson named coach of the year by peers - ESPN
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson has been named the National Basketball Coaches Association's Coach of the Year.