The scene outside Paycom Center didn’t feel like a typical playoff win—it felt like a release. Fans spilled onto Reno Avenue chanting “Four more wins!” like they’d been saving it for over a decade. And really, they have.

It’s been thirteen years since Oklahoma City made it to the NBA Finals. Back then, it was KD, Russ, and Harden getting their first real taste of the big stage. This time, it’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander holding the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP trophy, with fireworks booming overhead and a team full of 20-somethings behind him who just ran Minnesota out of the building.

It’s wild how fast this thing turned. Just three seasons ago, the Thunder were rolling out a roster that looked like a G League tryout and finishing 24-58. They had, what felt like, more future draft picks than actual wins. Now, they finished the regular season at 68-14, top seed in the West, and are headed to the Finals.

From “Cute” to Contenders in 24 Months

When Sam Presti hit the reset button on this team a few years ago, it looked like a long haul was ahead. He wasn’t chasing splashy trades or big-name free agents — he was playing the long game. Stockpile draft picks. Develop young guys. Keep the books clean. It sounded simple, but pulling it off without losing the locker room or the fanbase takes some serious patience. Somehow, it all clicked faster than anyone expected.

The transformation really took hold this season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went from All-Star to full-blown MVP. Not just one of the best guards in the league — the best player in the league, period. Jalen Williams turned into a 22-a-night threat who can score from every level and makes life easier for everyone around him. And then there’s Chet Holmgren. He's really coming into his own this season and has given OKC a legit 7-footer who can protect the rim, hit threes, and move like a guard.

Presti didn’t stop there, either. He dealt Josh Giddey for defensive menace Alex Caruso, the kind of guy who gets under the skin of stars and makes big plays when it counts. He also snagged Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency, a no-nonsense big man who rebounds, defends, and sets some of the meanest screens in the league. Those two were exactly what OKC needed to round things out.

It’s not just talent — it’s balance, chemistry, and a buy-in that runs top to bottom. That’s what took this team from “fun young squad” to a legitimate Finals favorite in what feels like record time.

Surviving the Gauntlet

The Thunder earned every bit of this trip to the finals. Their playoff run was a crash course in resilience, grit, and growth. In Round 1, they dropped Memphis in five games, but it wasn’t your average gentleman’s sweep. Game 3 saw them erase a 29-point deficit in what turned into Alex Caruso’s OKC coming-out party.

Then came Denver. Down 3-2 to The Joker and a roster full of champions, a lot of young teams would’ve crumbled. Not these guys. Game 6? A 43-point beatdown. Game 7? A 32-point dismantling that sent Nikola Jokic home to see his horses. It was the kind of series that tests your nerve — and the Thunder found theirs.

The Series in Living Color

Game 1 — Statement Defense (OKC 114, MIN 88)

The tone was set early, and Oklahoma City made sure it stayed that way. They wrapped up the first quarter on a blistering 17-2 run, and from that point on, it felt like Minnesota was chasing ghosts. The Wolves were sloppy with the ball, coughing up 19 turnovers as the Thunder’s defense swarmed from every direction. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took full advantage of the chaos — living at the free throw line, manipulating defenders, and racking up buckets in that quiet, unbothered way he does.

Game 2 — Shai’s First Masterpiece (OKC 118, MIN 103)

Julius Randle looked like he had cinder blocks tied to his feet. Whether it was Dort, Caruso, or some other rotating body flying at him, he just couldn’t get anything going. Anthony Edwards didn’t fare much better — he was still stuck in that same defensive maze OKC built in Game 1, running into walls no matter how many times he tried to reset. And on the other end, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was just floating. He dropped a smooth 38 points and dished 8 assists — and somehow, it all felt effortless.

Game 3 — Wolves Fight Back (MIN 143, OKC 101)

Target Center turned into an absolute madhouse, and for the first time in weeks, the Thunder looked rattled. The young guys finally showed their age a bit — bad switches, rushed shots, defensive breakdowns — it was all there. Minnesota came out with their hair on fire and hit OKC in the mouth from the opening tip. Anthony Edwards was electric, throwing down 30 points and doing it with a swagger that charged up the whole arena.

The Wolves put up a jaw-dropping 72 points in the first half, setting a new franchise playoff record, and they never let up. Everything was falling, and everything OKC tried just seemed to backfire. It was, without question, the Thunder’s worst loss of the year — and maybe their only real “what just happened?” moment of the postseason. But sometimes you need a punch in the mouth to see what you’re really made of.

Game 4 — The Shai & J‑Dub Rescue (OKC 128, MIN 126)

Two nights later, with all eyes on how the Thunder would bounce back, SGA showed up like a man on a mission. A 40‑point, 10‑rebound, 9‑assist masterpiece that didn’t just silence the crowd, it reminded everyone exactly who runs this team. Every time Minnesota made a push, Shai had an answer — whether it was a mid-range dagger, a tough finish through contact, or a perfectly placed dime to a cutter in stride.

Jalen Williams was right there with him, pouring in 34 points in his most complete playoff game to date. He got to the rim at will, buried jumpers when defenders sagged, and made smart reads every time the Wolves sent extra help. Chet Holmgren added his own flavor to the mix — dropping 21, swatting three shots, and making just enough perimeter noise to keep Minnesota’s bigs guessing.

And yet, the Wolves didn’t go quietly. They threw the kitchen sink at OKC — different coverages, small-ball stretches, zone looks, you name it. As Julius Randle put it afterward, they did “everything except win.” The final two minutes were pure chaos. Anthony Edwards drilled a step-back triple to cut the lead to one, Paycom held its breath — and then Shai, cool as ever, drove hard to his right, kissed it off the glass, and walked to the line to bury two cold-blooded free throws that sealed it.

Game 5 — A 48‑Minute Coronation (OKC 124, MIN 94)

By the first TV timeout, it was already 17-4, and Minnesota looked like they were still trying to figure out which gym they were in. It was that lopsided. The Thunder came out flying, turning defense into offense, and overwhelming the Wolves with pace. It felt like one of those games where everything snowballs in a blink — and it did.

The Wolves couldn’t buy a bucket, shooting just 3-for-20 in the opening quarter and managing a measly nine points, the lowest postseason output in franchise history. Shai was everywhere — scoring, dishing, orchestrating — and either scored or assisted on OKC’s first 13 points. Cason Wallace drilled a corner three to beat the first-quarter buzzer, and from there, the Thunder just kept piling it on.

By halftime, the lead had ballooned to 65-32. Minnesota had more turnovers (14) than made field goals (12), and the body language told the story. Heads dropped, shoulders slumped — whatever fight the Wolves had left didn’t make it out of the locker room.

The second half was basically a dress rehearsal for the trophy ceremony. After years of watching this team grind through a rebuild, fans finally got their moment.

Four Wins from Forever

A Rest Edge and Home‑Court Advantage

The Finals tip off June 5 in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder will host either Indiana or New York—two teams that have been throwing haymakers in a brutal Eastern Conference war. Whoever survives that slugfest is going to walk into Paycom bruised, battered, and probably running on fumes. Meanwhile, OKC gets a full week to rest, reset, and gear up for the biggest stage of their lives. That means ice baths for the bumps and bruises, deep dives into film sessions, and probably a much-needed mental break or two—maybe even a squad trip to Top Golf or a team dinner to shake off the nerves. There’s pressure, sure, but it’s the good kind. The kind you’ve earned.

Waiting on a Matchup

If it’s Indiana, expect a fast-paced chess match. Tyrese Haliburton runs one of the league’s most up-tempo offenses, and watching him go back-and-forth with defensive dogs like Caruso and Dort would be must-see TV. The Pacers love to push the ball, hit quick threes, and run teams out of rhythm — but they’ve got real holes on the other end of the floor. Finishing 18th in defensive rating during the regular season isn’t a great omen when you’re about to face a Thunder offense that thrives on spacing, cutting, and turning defense into points.

If it’s New York, the vibe shifts completely. Jalen Brunson has been playing out of his mind. It’d be a heavyweight duel between two of the best scoring guards in the league. But the Knicks are running low on reinforcements. With the physical toll of the playoffs starting to stack up, it’s fair to wonder how much gas they’ve got left.

Either way, Oklahoma City isn’t sweating it. Confidence isn’t an issue with this group. No matter who comes out of the East, the Thunder are walking into the Finals knowing exactly who they are and what they’re capable of.

All stats courtesy of NBA.com.