Thunder roll Timberwolves; Panthers reach Stanley Cup Final | NBA Draft deadline winners, losers

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The Oklahoma City Thunder and Florida Panthers

It Thunder are rolling in the NBA finals Historically dominant. Oklahoma City destroyed Minnesota 124-94 to finish the Western Conference finals in five games.

Could list some statistics such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the road with 34 points en route to the gain MVP Series or a limitation of the individual defense and the excellent team Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards Up to 19 points in shot of 7 by 18.

Or I could talk about historical domain, such as this in the second consecutive series, Oklahoma City, won a 30 -point victory, the only team that has done this, and this is the fourth victory of the Thunder of 30 points more in these playoffs, most in a single post -season.

But instead, I want to talk about effort. I want to talk Alex Caruso Sprining with the game that has no doubt anymore. I want to talk about five of the first seven Thunder players who have at least one robbery and the two who did not do it, Chet Holmgren and CASON WALLACEcombining five blocks.

Thunder’s 261 robberies/blocks are the 16 playoff games since 1985 Lakes. And they say no one already plays defense.

I want to talk about a team that has an individual and collective greatness, in some ways it surpasses the functioning and functioning smartly.

James Herbert writes par excellence Oklahoma City.

• Herbert: “When Minnesota left 5, they still managed to protect the painting and cause absolute havoc on the perimeter. Given the versatility of the Oklahoma City line, the large number of defensive demons on the list and the particular challenges of this time, I’m not sure that I have ever seen a better defensive team. And Wednesday’s representation may have been its maximum.”

This is the first Thunder trip to the finals since 2012 and will try to win the second title of the franchise (the Supersonics won in 1979). Is the Dawning of a Dynasty? We do not go too far, Oklahoma City has not yet won a title yet, but these thunder, the younger finals team in almost five decades, remember Brad Botkin another expansion dynasty: 2015 Warrior. The similarities are almost strange.

The thunder is waiting for the winner of Pacers-Knicks. Indiana leads the series 3-1.

The NHL also has the first of its finalists: the Panthers are headed to their third final of the Stanley Cup after winning the Hurricane 5-3 in the game 5.

• The panthers fell behind 2-0 before scoring three goals in the second period.
• Seth jarvis scored things in the beginning of the third but the captain Aleksander Barkov Did what the captains do, winning a battle for shit, taking off a defender and finding Carter Verhaeghe For what it turned out to be the Clincher series.
• Sam Bennett He returned home with a clean and Florida goal two minutes from the 6 to 4 late hockey.
• The Panthers are the fourth team that made three appearances in the consecutive Stanley Cup since the expansion of the 1980 playoff.

The panthers face the Oily – To whom they passed in seven games in the final of the Stanley Cup last year or the Stars. Edmonton leads this series 3-1.

Honorable Mentions

🏀 And it’s not a good day for …

The Minnesota Timberwolves

The wait continues. It Timberwolves I have never made the NBA finals and are now 0-3 in the Western conference finals.

This has been the best era of Timberwolves basketball. And yet, considering what we have just seen, Minnesota is again at a major junctionWrite Sam Quinn.

• Quinn: “The odds of Core Eight returning next season, for purely financial reasons, are quite low. If this group was not good enough to fight thunder, a weakened version of the same will not be next year. Rudy Gobert and chosen not to give Julius randle A long -term agreement? … as frustrating as Gobert’s violation was in the playoffs, this is not a team of the end of the Western conference without it. Remove it and suddenly the Timberwolves could be a game team: a destination that avoided only one victory this season. This is a precarious place to be like Anthony Edwards Age arrives. “

Sam also states that they may be on the other side and pursue Kevin during. But there are also many problems. It is a fascinating place (and for minnesota, scary).

👎 not so honorable mentions

🏀 Winners of the NBA withdrawal deadline, losers

It Deadline to remove from the NBA project And preserving the eligibility of the NCAA has come and left, and a trio of dry plants gained great impulses:

One thing in common? We continue to see the considerable influence of Nile.

There were others here notable decisions From the deadline:

• Arkansa First scorer Adou Thiero He stays in the project.
• Penn State elder man Yanic Konan Niederhauser He stays in the project.
• Miles byrd is returning to State of San Diego.
• Rj luis Jr.who entered the transfer portal after leaving St. John, He stays in the project.
• Ex-State of Florida star Jamir Watkins He stays in the project.

Notable decisions taken before Wednesday are included Yxel lendebork withdraw and transfer into Michigan, Pj haggerty withdraw and transfer into State of Kansas and Coward cedric to be in the projecta question Duke. Lendeborg and Haggerty ranked number 1 and number 2 between transfers, respectively.

Cameron Salerno named winners and losers of the retirement processAnd the reigning champions continue to win.

• Salerno: “”Winner: Florida – The reigning national champion saw his initial border Alex Condon and Rubern keyelu Remove -Back to the project to go back to school. His return solidifies the depth of the Florida track as the best in the country. This group gave the opposite teams during the NCAA tournament. Add -The transfers Boogie Fland and Xaivian LeeAnd you have a team capable of doing another title next year. “

Baylor’s defensive lineman Alex Foster dies at the age of 18

Baylor Redshirt Freshman Lineman Alex Foster died on Wednesday. She was 18 years old.

• It was assumed that Foster found multiple shot wounds in a car in his hometown of Greenville, Mississippi.
• Foster was Baylor’s highest ranked recruitment in 2024. After writing last season, it was expected to play a larger role for Bear in 2025.
• As part of a joint statement, Baylor coach Dave Aranda and athletic director Mack Rhoades say, “We are bewildered by the unexpected loss of Alex Foster, a dear member of our football family. Our deeper condolences are with Alex’s family and all of us who love him, as we raise them in prayer now and in the coming days.”

📺 What are we seeing on Thursday

⚾ Braves in Phillies13:05 on the MLB network
🏀 Pacers in Knicks (Pacers Lead 3-1)At 20 Ha TNT/TRUTV
🏒 Oilers to Stars (Oilers Lead 3-1)20 Has espn
⚾ National sailors21:40 to FS1