WASHINGTON (AFP) — Newly crowned National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player (MVP) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to an imposing 118-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves to open up a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals on Thursday.
Gilgeous-Alexander was presented with his MVP award on court before the game but any suggestions that the celebrations would distract from the task at hand quickly evaporated.
Roared on by a loud and passionate home crowd, the Canadian top-scored for the Thunder with 38 points and added eight assists and three rebounds in his fifth straight playoff game scoring more than 30 points.
OKC head to Minnesota on the back of their 60th win by double figures this season and in buoyant mood after following up on their Game One victory.
Oklahoma guard Alex Caruso said they were determined to ram home their early advantage.
“It’s human nature, the tendency is to kind of let off the gas,” Caruso said.
“I thought we did a good job of coming out first half, getting the lead, kind of holding it and then extending it in the third and finishing it through the fourth quarter,” he added.
The Timberwolves will take some encouragement from a strong showing from Anthony Edwards, who after disappointing in Game One, posted 32 points with six assists and nine rebounds.
But if they are to fight their way back into this series they will need to tighten up their defense, improve on 41.4 percent field-goal shooting and get more out of Julius Randle.