The Thunder return to the NBA Finals in steamroller mode.

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-94 on Wednesday, closing out the Western Conference Finals 4-1 to become the first team to clinch a spot in the NBA Finals. The Thunder, the best team in the regular season with a 68-14 record, await the winner of the series between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks in the Finals, with the former leading 3-1. The NBA Finals begin on June 5 in Oklahoma City.

OKC will play in its first finals since 2012 after a dream season in which they achieved the fifth-best record ever in the regular season and in which they eliminated the Memphis Grizzlies (4-0) and the Denver Nuggets (4-3) before their dominance against the Wolves (4-1).

It's OKC's first final since 2012 after a dream season.

In these playoffs, the Thunder won by more than 30 points four times and enter the Finals as favorites for the championship. MVP Gilgeous Alexander dominated again with 34 points (14 of 25 shooting), seven rebounds, and eight assists. Chet Holmgren had 22 points and seven rebounds, and Jalen Williams chipped in 19 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Gilgeous Alexander received the Earvin "Magic" Johnson Award for MVP of the Western Conference Finals.

The Thunder were already leading by 33 points at halftime against a Wolves team, with Julius Randle scoring 24 points and Anthony Edwards 19, shooting 7 of 18 from the field and 1 of 7 from the three-point line. A 41% shooting percentage for the team left Minnesota with no chance.

Frenchman Rudy Gobert had just two points, Jaden McDaniels scored five, while Mike Conley, another starter in Chris Finch's starting lineup, did not contribute a single point.

OKC's Dominance

It was a Thunder monologue from start to finish. The Thunder took a 17-point lead in a first quarter in which they only conceded nine points to the Wolves. Minnesota had more turnovers (4) than field goals (3), and only Edwards and Randle scored points for the visitors, who were outplayed in every facet of the game by OKC. Alex Caruso's performance was exemplary, shielding the Thunder's defense and competing with commendable aggressiveness.

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A three-pointer by Cason Wallace at the first-quarter buzzer put the two teams up by 17 points, and a 15-6 run early in the second quarter pushed the lead to 41-15. Jalen Williams was near perfect with 13 points in the second quarter, Gilgeous Alexander and Holmgren continued to score with ease, and OKC headed into the locker room with a whopping 33-point lead after a 14-5 final run.

Gilgeous Alexander played all 12 minutes of the third quarter, and the Thunder doubled the Wolves at 71-34. It was too late when Randle and Edwards stepped up for Minnesota, scoring 13 and 10 points, respectively.

In the fourth quarter, the Thunder's lead reached 39 points at 122-83, and coach Mike Daigneault was able to take his starters off the court and enjoy the party in the stands until the final 124-94 victory that sealed their ticket to the Finals.