Out West, it’s steady as she goes. The Oklahoma City Thunder are halfway to the Western Conference Finals, having taken care of business at home with a convincing 118-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2. The Thunder now lead the series 2-0.

While the second game was a closer affair than the series opener, Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves couldn't complete the comeback. Edwards poured in 32 points, but his impact was blunted by a team-worst -22 plus-minus rating — a telling stat in a game where every possession mattered.

As for the MVP candidate? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again showed why he’s the engine of this young Thunder squad. The All-Star guard dropped 38 points and dished out 8 assists, while Jalen Williams added a crucial 26 points of his own to power OKC’s offense.

The numbers don’t lie: this marks the second consecutive 15+ point victory for Oklahoma City to open the series. And according to NBA statisticians, teams that start a playoff series with two such dominant wins have advanced in 44 of 48 cases in league history.