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Gilgeous-Alexander Leads Thunder to 118-103 Victory, Sealing 2-0 Lead in Western Finals

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Following his recent selection, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander notched 38 points.
the NBA’s MVP
, and the Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Minnesota Timberwolves once more, securing a 118-103 victory on Thursday night to claim a 2-0 advantage in the Western Conference finals.

Gilgeous-Alexander converted 12 out of 21 field goals and 13 out of 15 free throws.
receiving his MVP trophy
From Commissioner Adam Silver prior to the game.

I felt like every emotion was amplified, but I was somewhat drained during the game, particularly at the beginning,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “I was overly excited. It’s a special occasion. I’m glad we emerged victorious, which allows me to truly savor the past few days and cherish this moment. This definitely makes a difference.

Jalen Williams scored 26 points with 10 rebounds, and Chet Holmgren contributed 22 points for the Thunder.

Earlier in the day, Oklahoma City’s Lu Dort received first-team All-Defensive honors, with Williams earning second-team All-Defensive recognition. Together, they anchored a defensive lineup that limited Minnesota to just 41.4% shooting.

“When you triumph in games, you achieve it as a team and enjoy yourselves during play; all the personal accomplishments you desire will follow,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated.

Anthony Edwards tallied 32 points, though he required 26 attempts to do so. Jaden McDaniels contributed with 22 points, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker chipped in with 17 for the Timberwolves.

Game 3 takes place on Saturday in Minneapolis.

Gilgeous-Alexander nailed a three-point shot with 16 seconds left in the first half, followed by hitting two free throws as time expired to aid Oklahoma City in securing a 58-50 advantage at halftime. He had accumulated 19 points by intermission.

We didn’t end the first half strongly enough,” said Minnesota’s coach Chris Finch. “If we could have wrapped up the half better, we wouldn’t find ourselves in such a precarious position during the third quarter.

During the third period, Gilgeous-Alexander penetrated into the key and released a chaotic shot that somehow found its way through the hoop while being fouled by his cousin, Alexander-Walker. After converting the subsequent free throw, Gilgeous-Alexander extended the Thunder’s advantage to 73-64.

When Cason Wallace fed Holmgren with a pass for a two-handed dunk during a fast break, it gave Oklahoma City an 82-65 lead towards the end of the third quarter. The Thunder maintained control as they entered the final period with a commanding 93-71 edge.

Minnesota narrowed the gap to just 10 points in the last quarter, yet Oklahoma City managed to keep the Timberwolves at arm’s length towards the end. As things stand now, Minnesota will have the advantage of playing at home, where they boast a record of 4 wins against only 1 loss during the playoffs.

Finch remained optimistic.

Each moment in this sequence offers an opportunity to discover something,” he stated. “Therefore, we will return home. Our squad performs well on our home turf. We’ll head back and prepare intensively for Game 3. Keep your heads up, review the footage, and gear up for Game 3.

___

AP NBA:
https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Cliff Brunt, The Canadian Press

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