OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.–The Oklahoma City Thunder are one win away from their first NBA Finals appearance in over a decade, and Loud City is roaring with belief.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will return home to the Paycom Center up 3-1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After two wins at home to start the Western Conference finals, the Thunder lost mightily in game 3. That was the team’s first time playing away since game 6 of the semifinals versus the Denver Nuggets.
The Thunder were ranked first in the NBA during the regular season. They began the play-off series by sweeping the #8 Memphis Grizzlies. They won the first two games at home and the second two away.
Ahead of Game 5 Wednesday, the Thunder revealed playoff shirts, provided by Love’s Travel Stops.
SGA leads Thunder to the edge of the NBA Finals
In addition to fighting it out for the full seven game series, fans watched two MVP hopefuls play their unique brands of the game. Nuggets center, Nikola Jokic has won the award three times before.
On Thursday May 22, 2025, after the win over fourth-ranked Denver, Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was presented his first Most Valuable Player award. The team celebrated on their home court and went on to beat the Timberwolves that night.
Gilgeous-Alexander, affectionately nicknamed SGA, is the Thunder’s third MVP since Kevin Durant in 2014 and Russell Westbrook in 2017. Westbrook saw his 2025 Nuggets season end last week in the same arena that once cheered him as MVP.
This is Oklahoma City’s Thunder’s first time at the NBA Western Conference finals since 2016. A win on Wednesday May 28 will be the franchise’s first NBA Finals since 2012 when they lost to the Miami Heat.
In a post-game interview on Monday, 2025 MVP SGA said they can close out this round as long as the team can “play to our identity.”
Watch parties turn Loud City into a movement
The Paycom Center opened its doors, seats, and scoreboard even for the away games. “Loud City Live” broadcast on the big screen, and fans got to experience Rumble the Bison mascot and the Thunder Girls.
Fans looking to watch any of the games can go to one of many NBA official Watch Zones. For away games 3 and 4, Fassler Hall added lifestyle brand, Souse, to the vibe. As an interactive, live presentation of DJ mash-ups, Souse brought DJ AOA, JuJuSoCrazy, and DJ Ethix for game 3 on Saturday. Launey P spun and JuJuSoCrazy returned for Monday’s game 4.
Angie P, the Head of Sousepitality, told the Black Wall Street Times “Oklahoma City Thunder has the best fan base ever.”
She spoke about the fan support. “They don’t call it Loud City for nothing. Despite the loss in game 3, the energy and the morale was still high.”
“Game 4 was packed out. It definitely was a nail biter,” Angie P said. “The ambiance of Fassler Hall aka Thunder Hall was unmatched.”
If the Thunder can wrap up the NBA series at home on Wednesday, they can take a rest. The conference winners face either the New York Knicks or the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals starting Thursday June 5, 2025.
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