Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder enter Finals with second-best point differencial ever


Jorge Sierra: Oklahoma City enters the Finals with the second-best point differential (regular season + playoffs) in NBA history. 1996 Bulls: +11.94 2017 Warriors: +11.96 2025 THUNDER: +12.55 1971 Bucks: +12.58 They are four wins away from entering GOAT conversations.
Source: x.com

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
No doubt remains: Thunder answer all questions, all critics with a dominating win to advance to the NBA Finals
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named WCF MVP, but it could have been the Thunder defense.
nbcsports.com/nba/news/no-do…12:20 AM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA: “This isn’t our goal. We didn’t start the season like, ‘we want to win the West.’ We want to win a championship. Still four more really hard games to win.” – 12:10 AM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Jalen Williams: “Life is ups and downs, same as basketball. I know I’ve put the work in to be good in those moments.
It makes it easy when I’m playing alongside him [SGA]..” – 12:07 AM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA on his moment with Kendrick Perkins after the game: “He just said he was proud of me. Told me to keep going.” – 12:03 AM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA on clinching the NBA Finals in OKC:
“I wanted the fans to be able to enjoy the moment with us..
To be able to celebrate it in our building..
Above all, I wanted to give my energy and my effort to give these fans what they deserve.” pic.x.com/0PVrzIAoF712:01 AM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA on OKC clinching the NBA Finals on the 9 year anniversary of Game 6 of the 2016 WCF:
“There’s no correlation at all. We didn’t even think about that.
Unfortunate event, obviously..”
SGA was 17 at the time. JDub was 15. Chet was 14. And Cason Wallace was 12. – 12:00 AM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander “I didn’t want to go back to Minnesota, travel wise, and I wanted the fans to enjoy it with us” said it was important to him tonight to “try to give these fans what they deserve” – 11:58 PM
Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi
I’m LIVE on the @SportingTrib talking about the Thunder punching their ticket to the NBA Finals and going through Bleacher Report’s “24 under 24” list from 4 years ago where SGA and Tyrese Haliburton were No. 18 and No. 23 between … Talen Horton Tucker! x.com/i/broadcasts/1…11:48 PM
Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Jimmy Goldstein congratulates Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after Thunder’s WCF win pic.x.com/yeGOCZJnng11:47 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Converse’s ad for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander heading to his first NBA Finals. pic.x.com/P2tQbxQ20h11:37 PM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
ANOTHER ONE FOR SGA 🏆
The moment Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lifted the Magic Johnson trophy 👏 pic.x.com/lUluNnfDiH11:27 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
2012 vs 2025 Thunder?
KD➡Shai
Russ➡Wallace
Harden➡J-Dub
Ibaka➡Chet
Thabo➡Dort
Perk➡Hartenstein
D-Fish➡Caruso
Collison➡Jay Will
Cook➡Joe
Hayward➡Wiggins
Aldrich➡Dieng
Ivey➡Jones
Nazr➡Kenrich
Jackson➡Topić
Maynor➡Mitchell – 11:24 PM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
Shai and OKC GM Sam Presti taking it all in ⚡ pic.x.com/qsu6o8voe711:20 PM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
“I don’t have 124 points by myself. I love these guys to death.”
SGA after winning WCF MVP 🙌 pic.x.com/IzCfmX5snG11:18 PM

Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins Conference Finals MVP:
si.com/nba/thunder/ne…11:16 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Tonight was the first time that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made 10 shots in the paint in a playoff game pic.x.com/zrH9YuzIiN11:13 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
The message from Daigneault, SGA, JDub and Chet postgame: pic.x.com/z6yxC4P6wv11:13 PM
Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
My All-West Playoffs 1st Team:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Anthony Edwards
Jalen Williams
Kawhi Leonard
Nikola Jokic – 11:12 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Rank these WCF MVPs:
SGA — 31/5/8
Luka — 32/10/8
Jokic — 28/15/12
Steph — 24/7/7 pic.x.com/1kpJmfpxQm11:08 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
SGA in the WCF:
31.4 PPG
5.2 RPG
8.2 APG
1.8 SPG
Western Conference Finals MVP. pic.x.com/VPaPprzZ1z11:06 PM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
ANOTHER MVP FOR SGA 🏆
Shai dominated in the Western Conference finals to capture his first Magic Johnson Trophy! pic.x.com/P9JBBPZOaZ11:06 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA has won the Western Conference Finals MVP. – 11:06 PM
Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named Western Conference finals MVP.
– SGA averaged 31.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG & 8.2 APG in five games vs. Timberwolves. – 11:06 PM
Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
SGA is the runaway MVP of the playoffs, per HoopsHype’s Global Rating. pic.x.com/bKz47s56xB11:03 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Thunder fans cheer big when they see SGA and his family on the Jumbotron. pic.x.com/Rl9EuPR4j411:01 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA and Chet in their NBA Finals hats. pic.x.com/RLUcS6q70w11:01 PM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
All love between Ant and Shai after the Thunder eliminate the Wolves 🤝 pic.x.com/NgIZ6WH1sd10:59 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tonight
34 PTS
14-25 FG
2-4 3PT
4-4 FT
7 REB
8 AST
2 STL
The MVP is going to the NBA Finals. pic.x.com/Jgeh3YgwQI10:54 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
SGA in Game 5:
34 PTS
7 REB
8 AST
2 STL
Headed to the NBA Finals. pic.x.com/kcsCZPGn1S10:47 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA has 34 points on 14-25 shooting.
This is 1 of 4 free throws, by the way.
1 was a tech.
pic.x.com/JTipYtfCyG10:39 PM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Was looking up the all-time PPG’s 16 games into a single postseason for SGA on @Stathead and that MJ fella wasn’t too bad (these are all 8 of his postseason runs that meet the 16-game threshold btw) pic.x.com/IFwI53NVRh10:04 PM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
MVP and a leader ⚡
SGA is mic’d up for Game 5 🎙 pic.x.com/tMRmaLZNk510:04 PM

David Aldridge @davidaldridgedc
It’s hard to think of a team whose runway could be as long as OKC’s. SGA: 26. Holmgren: 23. J-Dub: 24. Hartenstein: 27. Dort: 26. Wallace: 21. AND they still have 8 billion firsts. Who in the west will still be rising like them in 2-3 years? San Antonio & Houston, but who else? – 9:55 PM
Tas Melas @TasMelas
Shai can smell The Finals pic.x.com/QE9rOfg04y9:54 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Shai doesn’t get that much credit for what he does offensively in these huge Thunder blowouts because their defense sticks out more and no chance to make big clutch plays at end that people remember. But dominant first from him: 20 points on 8-14, 5 AST, +24. – 9:52 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored or assisted on as many points in the first half of Game 5 (32) as the Minnesota Timberwolves scored as a team.
Timberwolves starters scored 20 points on 27 shots. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 points on 14 shots. – 9:49 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Thunder Big 3 of SGA, JDub and Chet are outscoring the Wolves 50-32 at halftime. – 9:48 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Thunder Big 3 at the half
SGA
20 PTS/8-14 FG/4 REB/5 AST
JDub
15 PTS/5-9 FG/6 REB
Chet
15 PTS/5-8 FG/2-3 3PT – 9:47 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
SGA in the first half of Game 5: pic.x.com/wCHptfhIUu9:45 PM

Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
Thunder 65, Wolves 32. Halftime. Game 5. Win sends OKC to Finals. Shai 20 pic.x.com/oshKKJVa989:45 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Shai has been excellent switching onto Ant tonight. Wolves had some success attacking him in previous games. Not tonight. – 9:36 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA scored or assisted on 24 of OKC’s 26 points in the 1st quarter.
The Wolves scored 9 points. – 9:17 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
1st Q of Game 5 of the 2024 Western Conference finals:
DAL 35, MIN 19 – Luka Doncic 20 pts
1st Q of Game 5 of the 2025 Western Conference finals:
OKC 26, MIN 9 – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 12 pts – 9:14 PM
Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor
SGA really just scored or assisted on all but two of OKC’s first-quarter points? Sheesh. – 9:12 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 1st quarter
12 PTS
5-7 FG
1-1 3PT
3 REB
5 AST
+17 – 9:11 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Alex Caruso swipes the ball and gives up his own dunk to SGA pic.x.com/DSw11KNdAz9:09 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
In Game 3, Anthony Edwards outscored the Thunder by himself in the first quarter.
Oklahoma City is giving the Timberwolves a reciprocation of Game 3, right down to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander outscoring the Timberwolves 11-7 by himself with 2:38 left in the first quarter. – 9:02 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been special tonight. My goodness, 11 points, four assists, two rebounds 5-7 shooting and there is still 2:38 to go in the first. – 9:02 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has 11 points on 5-7 shooting.
Minnesota Timberwolves have 7 points on 3-17 shooting. – 9:01 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Alex Caruso picks Julius Randle’s pockets clean, the Timberwolves don’t even try to get back on defense in transition and he dishes it to SGA to finish the fastbreak at the rim. – 8:56 PM
Stephen Noh @StephNoh
SGA driving gravity — draws all five defenders, kicks out for a corner 3 pic.x.com/QaaNeaFgKL8:56 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA lob for a Chet slam.
Loud City erupts.
Chet has 7 early points.
SGA has 4 assists.
11-0 OKC run. – 8:51 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
After two clean corner 3 misses by MINN, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander comes down the floor to find Chet Holmgren on a lob and sends the Paycom into a frenzy, Thunder up 11-3. – 8:51 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
OKC’s first 3 buckets:
SGA pass for a Chet 3
SGA pass for a Chet dunk
SGA pass for a Hart oop layup
7-0 Thunder run. – 8:50 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
We have reached the elimination portion of the 2025 Western Conference Finals @TheAthletic
You already know that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has mastered the midrange — Jalen Williams has shown real growth in that critical playoff area as well
nytimes.com/athletic/live-…8:38 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Thunder starters vs Wolves
SGA
Dort
JDub
Chet
Hartenstein
Western Conference Finals
Game 5 – 8:08 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Thunder Starting Lineup vs. Timberwolves Game 5
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Lu Dort
Jalen Williams
Chet Holmgren
Isaiah Hartenstein – 8:07 PM
Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
“You’re doing something right if everyone’s complaining”
@GordonHayward tells @TermineRadio & @JumpShot8 that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should keep taking advantage of his style of play, and why he’d do the same
Hear game 5 #TWolvesVsThunder @ 8:30p ET on Ch. 86 or the App pic.x.com/U4LD12sGDh7:54 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Thunder vs. Timberwolves Game 5 (OKC up 3-1).
Three things I’m watching:
1. Wolves defending Shai Gilgeous-Alexander w/o fouling.
2. Turnovers. Wolves 56 in three losses, led to 75 OKC points.
3. Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle. Show up or 1-2-3 Cancun. #NBAPlayoffs pic.x.com/cpaiMCg2xv7:23 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
SGA makes his Game 5 entrance.
OKC clinches a spot in the NBA Finals with a win tonight. pic.x.com/PQnYhJOhIS7:09 PM

Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
“He’s probably the best isolation player I’ve seen in maybe the last 10 years”
🔊 Tony Allen has high praise for what he’s seen from SGA #ThunderUp
@aa000G9 | @WorldWideWob | @adaniels33
Hear Thunder-Wolves Game 5 tonight at 8:30 PM on NBA Radio sxm.app.link/nbaradiolive pic.x.com/IcZWVedbgi5:15 PM

Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
NBA twitter: SGA just shoots free throws
NBA all world defender Tony Allen:
(@ChrisVernonShow) pic.x.com/91T61gzgGT3:17 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Shai in closeout games:
29.6 PPG
1.4 SPG
55/50%
How many for Shai tonight? pic.x.com/AWdPflPZsF1:37 PM

Kendrick Perkins @KendrickPerkins
If Haliburton brings a Championship to Indiana is he the greatest Pacer of All-Time??? SGA the free throw merchant? Heated debate between @RealAClifton @channingfrye @Rjeff24 and yours truly
Tap in @RoadTrippinPod
youtube.com/watch?v=DyBiLs…6:46 AM

More on this storyline

Brandon Rahbar: SGA on embracing his wife and son after the win tonight: “The best thing about that moment is he has no clue what’s going on and he’s just happy to see me. You get caught up in so many things that don’t matter.. He’s shown me everything that actually matters in life.” -via Twitter @BrandonRahbar / May 29, 2025
Brandon Rahbar: Chet Holmgren on SGA: “Playing with him, you never feel like he makes the wrong read.” -via Twitter @BrandonRahbar / May 29, 2025
Rylan Stiles: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander “This isn’t our goal…Four more games to go win.” Said it’ll be four really hard wins they need to get and they need to be the best version of themselves in the Finals. -via Twitter @Rylan_Stiles / May 29, 2025





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