Oklahoma City leads Minnesota in Western finals

Sharjah24: Oklahoma City Thunder has taken a 2-0 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals of the NBA.

Stellar performance by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Canadian star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, crowned the league's Most Valuable Player, led Oklahoma City to a second consecutive victory against Minnesota. He scored 38 points, recorded 8 assists, and grabbed 3 rebounds. His teammate Jalen Williams added 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Chet Holmgren contributed 22 points. For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards scored 32 points, along with 9 rebounds and 6 assists.

MVP honours

Gilgeous-Alexander received the MVP award before the game from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, earning a warm applause from his supporters in the stands. After the game, he expressed his emotions, stating, "I was really touched; I felt tired at the beginning of the game. I'm happy we won, and I can appreciate this moment more."

Game highlights

The Thunder dominated the first two quarters, winning both 29-25, to lead 58-50 at halftime. They struck hard in the third quarter, finishing it with a 14-point advantage (35-21). Despite a strong effort from the Timberwolves in the final quarter (32-25), they could not turn the game in their favor.

Upcoming matches

Minnesota will host Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday, hoping to avoid losing in the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive year after falling to the Dallas Mavericks in 2024.