The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-94, winning the Western Conference Finals 4-1 and returning to the NBA Finals after 12 years. After the game, Thunder core and regular season MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said that this was just a small step for the team to pursue the championship, and the real challenge is still ahead.

Alexander said after the game: "This is the right way, but our ultimate goal has not been achieved yet. We still have a lot of work to do. Now is the time to go all out. I only focus on moving forward. This is not our end."

In this game, Alexander showed his MVP dominance, scoring 34 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists, leading the Thunder to a crushing victory to end the series. The 22-year-old center Chet Holmgren scored 22 points, and Jaylen Williams also contributed 19 points. The Thunder, with an average age of only 25.6 years old, became the youngest team to reach the finals since the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977.

The Thunder will open the finals at home next Thursday, and the opponent will be between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks. The Pacers currently lead the Eastern Conference series 3-1, and Game 5 will be played this Thursday.

Alexander has thus joined the elite ranks, becoming the fourth player in the past 20 years to reach the Finals in the same year as winning the MVP, following Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.

The 26-year-old Canadian star was also named Western Conference Finals MVP on Wednesday and is on track to become the first player to win an NBA title while also leading the team in scoring since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000.

Alexander said: "This team makes me feel like I'm 15 years old again, just like playing in the AAU league. This is the pure joy that makes us strong. We enjoy the game and have fun on the court."