Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received the Michael Jordan Trophy from Commissioner Adam Silver before tipoff — then celebrated his first-ever MVP award with a performance to remember in the playoffs.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander receives the 2024-25 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player trophy!#KiaMVP | #NBAAwards
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2025
SGA torched Minnesota with 38 points, and another blistering third quarter by the OKC Thunder helped shackle the Timberwolves, 118-103, for a commanding 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals on Friday (PH time), May 23.
Defended home court ??
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 23, 2025
It marked the fifth-straight 30-point outing for the newly-crowned MVP on top of collecting six assists and hitting 13 of his 15 free-throw attempts.
Oklahoma City turned on the jets anew to start the second half, increasing a 58-50 halftime lead into a 17-point advantage at 82-65 with under three minutes left.
IT'S STORMING IN OKLAHOMA CITY ????
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2025
Cason Wallace 3.
Shai steal.
Wallace to Chet alley-oop.
INCREDIBLE SEQUENCE IN GAME 2 OF THE WCF ON ESPN!!
Overall, a 35-21 third quarter helped OKC carry a sizeable 93-71 advantage entering the final frame. Despite the Timberwolves coming to as close as 11 points, the Thunder held on as Jalen Williams fired 11 of his 26 points in that period.
HUGE PLAY FROM JALEN WILLIAMS!
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2025
Steal on one end.
OREB and the and-1 on the other.
MIN-OKC | 4Q | WCF Game 2 | ESPN
Chet Holmgren logged 22 markers to push Oklahoma City move two wins away from reaching their first NBA Finals trip since 2012. The Thunder also racked up their fifth-straight home playoff win and improved to 7-1 in their own building this postseason.
Games 3 and 4 of the series now shifts to Minnesota as Timberwolves look to find answers after falling to 0-2 deficit for the first time this playoffs.
Anthony Edwards topscored the Twolves with 32 points on the night he passed Kevin Garnett as the team’s new all-time leading playoff scorer.
Jaden McDaniels contributed 22 markers as Nickeil Alexander-Walker chipped 17 off the bench. Julius Randle, who poured 28 points in Game 1, had a quiet six-point outing on a dismal 2-of-11 shooting.
(With reports from Pao Ambat)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]
