The Oklahoma City Thunder are the new Western Conference champions in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Thunder closed the series with the Minnesota Timberwolves after 124:94 at home and after 4-1 victories qualified for their first League Finals since 2012.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, chosen as the MVP of the regular season and in the series with the Wolves, was again above everyone with his 34 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. Chet Holmgren added 22 points, 7 boards and 3 blocks and Jalen Williams scored 19 points. Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Joe contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively, in the victory that ended the dispute after Minnesota had a chance to tie the series at 2-2, but lost the fourth game 126:128 at home.

Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 24 points. Anthony Edwards added 19, while Naz Reed and Terrence Shannon Jr. each scored 11. Randle and Edwards played a better game than in the fourth, when they combined for 21 points, but this time Minnesota's bench was not productive enough, and the other three players from the starting five - Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley - combined for just 7 points.

Thus, OKC will play in the Finals again after 2012, when they lost to the Miami Heat, then with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in the lineup. For the Thunder there was also a powerful trio - Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook. In the title dispute, the Thunder await the winner of the Eastern Conference finals between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks. Rick Carlisle's team has a 3-1 lead. | BGNES