The Western Conference semifinals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets were quite competitive through six games. The Thunder were picked by many people to win the series, but they had trouble shaking off the Nuggets.
On Sunday, they finally extinguished Nikola Jokic and crew in Game 7, and it wasn't even close.
The Thunder fell behind early by as many as 11 points, but they outscored Denver 39-20 in the second quarter, and that was as far as the outcome of this game (and the series) was in doubt.
After they put the finishing touches on a 125-93 victory, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shared a moment with Denver guard Russell Westbrook.
Fans reacted on X to the moment.
"Ngl I kinda feel bad for russ he just wanted at least 1 before he retired," wrote one fan.
"Come back to OKC my guy," a second fan wrote. "Bring KD, but mostly hanging out like Mike Muscala."
"'Bro you should’ve been here with us,'" a third fan wrote.
"I’m pretty sure the song viva la vida is about Russ," another fan wrote.
"You just know Shai was thanking him for helping them win ð," a fifth fan wrote.
"He’s really played for OKC this series," another fan wrote.
Westbrook, who had been a spark plug at times for Denver in the series and all season long, didn't have a good Game 7. He shot just 2-of-7 from the field and committed four turnovers in 22 minutes.
Westbrook, of course, played a good chunk of his career for Oklahoma City. He spent his first 11 seasons there, and he averaged a triple-double in each of his last three seasons with the team.
Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander, the likely regular-season MVP, was his usual prolific self with 35 points on 12-of-19 shooting from the field, four assists and three steals.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives around Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) during the second half during game one of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center.
© Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Jalen Williams, the budding Oklahoma City star forward, added 24 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
The team will now take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals starting on Tuesday. Oklahoma City won 68 games during the regular season, and its chances of winning the NBA championship have seemingly grown slowly but surely over the last handful of weeks.