The Thunder are learning in real time what’s required to get to the next level, an encouraging sign. But they will need to be much better.

The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t need 48 minutes to show how worthy they are of making the Western Conference finals for the first time in nearly a decade. It took maybe 18 minutes of game time to show the difference between themselves and a very hobbled,

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points, Jalen Williams added 24 and the Oklahoma City Thunder rolled into the Western Conference finals, beating the Denver Nuggets 125-93 in Game 7