Basketball

The case for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was simple. He's the best player on an Oklahoma City Thunder team that had the best record this season and set a league mark for margin of victory. If that wasn't enough, he also won the scoring title.

There was Bill Russell. There was Larry Bird. And now, there’s Nikola Jokic.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the NBA's most valuable player. The 26-year-old from Hamilton is the second Canadian to receive the award, following Steve Nash's wins in 2005 and 2006. More coming.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves must solve Oklahoma City’s ‘AAU’ defense to avoid a 2-0 deficit in the Western Conference finals.

Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14, first in the Western Conference) Oklahoma City; Thursday, 8:30 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Thunder -7.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Minnesota hadn't played in nearly a week and Oklahoma City had just played in a Game 7 two days earlier.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 of his 31 points in the second half, and the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Hamilton, Ont.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Rhyne Howard made a go-ahead free throw with 9.1 seconds left, and the Atlanta Dream withstood a thrilling fourth-quarter rally led by Caitlin Clark to beat the Indiana Fever 91-90 on Tuesday night.

NEW YORK (AP) — Stephon Castle gets one more accolade from his rookie season: The San Antonio guard was the only unanimous first-team selection on the All-Rookie team.