This year's Western Conference finals in the NBA turned out to be a dud. The Oklahoma City Thunder dominated most of the series versus the Minnesota Timberwolves, and their only hiccup was a 143-101 loss in Game 3.
On Wednesday, they sent Minnesota home for the summer with a 124-94 rout. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, this year's regular-season MVP, had another big performance with 34 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
This series was billed as a matchup between Gilgeous-Alexander and the Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards, two of the NBA's brightest young superstars. Once Game 5 ended, the two of them exchanged handshakes in a moment of sportsmanship.
If anyone doubted that Gilgeous-Alexander was all that prior to this series, most doubts have been extinguished by now.
He led the NBA during the regular season with an average of 32.7 points a game, and it was the third straight season in which he averaged at least 30 points a game. He also shot 51.9% from the field and 37.5% from 3-point range, and he led the league with 7.9 made free throws per game.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3).
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3).
Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Edwards, on the other hand, has made it clear that he has room for improvement. As explosive and dangerous as he can be, he is still inconsistent, especially during the biggest games of the season.
He shot 7-of-18 in Game 5 after going 5-of-13 in both Game 4 and Game 1. As a team, the Timberwolves simply couldn't manufacture enough offense against an Oklahoma City defense that some are starting to consider a historically great one.