On the coronation day of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder put on the finest of ceremonies
The NBA’s newest MVP was handed his trophy before scoring 38 points as the Thunder overwhelmed the Minnesota Timberwolves by winning 118-103 on Thursday night.
The NBA’s newest MVP was crowned on ThursdayGetty Images - GettyIt’s been a dismal couple of days for the Timberwolves, who are now two games down in the Western Conference finals and OKC have looked red hot favorites for a first championship since their move to Oklahoma.
Anthony Edwards scored 32 points but it took him 26 shots to get there as Minnesota again struggled with their shooting.
There was little improvement from Game 1 in Minnesota being able to breach the Thunder defence.
However the intensity of Oklahoma’s offence that left NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe bewildered at the shocking level of the Timberwolves played.
“I watched this game extremely close because I wanted to see something,” Sharpe said on the latest episode of NightCap podcast.
“I’m not sure Minnesota can get more than a game, if they can even get that.
“Watching this game, I’m convinced they can’t win this series but I’m not sure they get more than a game, if that.”
His podcast co-host and former NFL star Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson echoed Sharpe’s comments and singled out the issue with the Timberwolves.
“To tell you the truth, inconsistency,” Ochocinco simply said.
“It’s another game where Anthony Edwards is inefficient… and he’s not getting much help from the starters.”
“They [Thunder] are contesting every shot.. and looking at these past two games, I’m nervous for making my pick the Timberwolves.”
Sharpe dismissed the chances of the Timberwolves making a comeback in this series@NightCap Gilgeous-Alexander is looking for another piece of hardware this seasonGetty Images - GettyWith Sharpe confident the Thunder will breeze past the Timberwolves either with a 4-0 sweep or a 4-1 win, it will take a remarkable effort by Minnesota to overturn this 2-0 deficit.
In fact it will take a gigantic effort to stop Gilgeous-Alexander alone who picked apart the Minnesota defence in these past two games.
His 38 points matched his playoff career high, he backed up his scoring with eight assists and contributed to the Thunder’s defensive effort with three steals.
“I’m happy we won so I can really enjoy the last couple of days, soak it all up,” Gilgeous-Alexander said referring to his recent MVP accolade.
“That really helps.”
In the past six quarters Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 58 points on 20-35 shooting as he continues to enjoy a stunning season.
“He’s just got an unbelievable ability to not be in a groove and get himself there almost instantaneously,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.
“You never feel like the next play is going to be a continuation of a lack of rhythm or a couple of misses.”
Nevertheless, Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch is remaining optimistic as he tries to avoid a second-straight exit in the Western Conference finals.
“Every minute in a series is a chance to find something,” he said one year on from watching his team lose to the Dallas Mavericks.
“So we’re going to go back home. This is a good team at home. So we’re going to go home and fight for Game 3. Heads up, look at the tape and get ready for Game 3.”
Game 3 takes place on Sunday and the Timberwolves cannot afford to go 3-0 down in this series.
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