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NBA most valuable player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the OKC Thunder dominated in the Western Conference finals, clinching Game 5 at home on Wednesday. Even before they made it official, fans were already buzzing online with their reactions.
The Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5, 124-94, to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012.
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Fans celebrated the feat, particularly Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's progress to GOAT status in OKC, sharing their opinions on X (formerly Twitter).
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"They gone slander kd (Kevin Durant) so bad when shai nem win the championship and it’s real nasty work but i’m already seeing it’s gone happen," a fan said.
In the series-clinching win, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a game-high 34 points on 14-of-25 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 from 3-point territory. He also had eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals in 34 minutes.
The three-time NBA All-Star was later named the Western Conference finals MVP.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proud of what they have accomplished so far in OKC
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the OKC Thunder are on their way to the NBA Finals. It is a proud moment for the team, which had to go through some rough seasons prior.
'SGA,' the newly minted league's most valuable player, highlighted it during the Western Conference finals trophy presentation, where he was also named the series MVP, saying:
"It's really a good feeling. It's stuff you only dream of as a kid. I just want to shout out these fans, they have been here. A couple of years when I got here there's a couple of dark times in this arena, not fun times and these fans have been by our side through thick and thin, so we appreciate them first and foremost..."
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added:
"But that being said, this is a step in the right direction, we have a lot of work to do and we know that and that's what we're focused on. So, let's buckle up and get ready."
Check out what he had to say below, beginning at 4:02:
In the Western Conference title-cliching Game 5 on Wednesday, the Thunder dominated right from the get-go, not allowing the Timberwolves to get their game fully going on their way to the 124-94 victory.
Gilgeous-Alexander led their thorough attack, finishing with 34 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals in 34 minutes. Chet Holgrem also had a solid game with 19 points, seven rebounds and three blocks while Jalen Williams added 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
The Thunder are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012, when their roster featured Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. That year, they lost in five games to LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
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