The newest NBA MVP put his head down and dribbled toward the basket, an attempt by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to lunge past one of the league's best perimeter defenders midway through the fourth quarter of another decisive victory by Oklahoma City in the Western Conference finals.

The Nuggets dug out of an 0-2 hole against the Timberwolves in last year’s playoffs. Can Minnesota do the same against the Thunder?

Gilgeous-Alexander drove toward the lane and beat McDaniels on the play, when the Timberwolves star shoved the star guard and sent him to the ground in a heap. Players from both sides jawed at one another as the tension ramped up, and when the dust settled, McDaniels received a Flagrant 1 — not that he minded.

The Oklahoma City Thunder overwhelmed the Minnesota Timberwolves during the third quarter of Thursday's 118-103 win to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals. OKC's eight-point halftime lead swelled to 22 by the start of the final frame,

Through two games of the Western Conference finals, the toxicity of the Thunder’s all-time defense has bubbled for the Timberwolves.

Randle had been a major driver of Minnesota's push to the West finals. His struggles in Game 2 are one reason the Wolves are in trouble.

Every minute in this series,” Finch said after Minnesota’s Game 2 loss to Oklahoma City, “is a chance to find something.”

El más reciente MVP de la NBA inclinó la cabeza y dribló hacia la canasta, un intento de Shai Gilgeous-Alexander de superar a uno de los