OKC’s large 3, ‘Thunderstruck’ and extra traits from the Thunder’s remaining WCF name

The Oklahoma City Thunder are on their as far back as the NBA Finals.

Host Oklahoma City punched its price ticket Wednesday after defeating Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, a sport by which NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 34 issues.

According to ESPN Research, the 124-194 win made the Thunder simply the 3rd workforce to notch more than one 30-point series-clinching wins in a postseason, becoming a member of the 2008 Boston Celtics and 1987 Los Angeles Lakers — either one of whom received the name.

The Thunder remaining reached the NBA Finals in 2012 once they defeated Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs in six video games; Kevin Durant averaged 29.5 issues within the collection for the Thunder.

So much has modified on the earth — and with the Oklahoma City franchise — since 2012. Here’s a glance again.

OKC used to be in a special large 3 generation

Before Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, there used to be some other large 3 pursuing the similar objective.

Durant, now a ahead for the Phoenix Suns, used to be joined through present Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook and present LA Clippers guard James Harden. The unique Oklahoma City large 3 helped the franchise end its 2011-12 common season with a 47-19 file and averaged 68.4 issues as a unit.

On the Thunder’s adventure to the NBA Finals, they swept the protecting champion Dallas Mavericks within the first spherical, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in 5 video games and took the Spurs in six.

When Oklahoma City reached the Finals, the massive 3 confronted the Miami Heat‘s LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who mixed to reasonable 68.5 issues of their name run in comparison to 70 for Durant, Westbrook and Harden.

Oklahoma City received Game 1 prior to shedding 4 directly, and the Heat hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy and James earned his first NBA Finals MVP honors.

Kevin Durant made his appearing debut

Months after Durant and his workforce misplaced to the Heat, his first movie debuted.

In “Thunderstruck,” which used to be launched in August 2012, Durant mysteriously switches talent units with a scholar who idolizes the then-Thunder big name. The younger fan turns into the standout on his highschool basketball workforce whilst Durant enters a stoop.

The movie grossed $587,211 international in its 250-theater appearing.

Nicki Minaj took over the rap international

Minaj, who’s signed to Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment file label, crowned the Billboard charts along with her rap album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.” The album, launched on Jan. 1, 2012, featured the hit music “Beez in the Trap,” with 2 Chainz, and spent 25 weeks at the Billboard Top 100. “Pink Friday” received the Billboard Music Award for Top Rap Album in 2013.

Instagram expanded past iOS

Instagram, a social media app used for photograph and video sharing, used to be to be had for Apple merchandise in its reputable free up in 2010. Over time, the app turned into extra fashionable, and Instagram used to be purchased for $1 million in money and inventory through Facebook 18 months after its release. Instagram made the app to be had at the Android app retailer in April 2012 after “running tirelessly” to make it Android-friendly.