The Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs bring together the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Both franchises are eager to make a long-awaited appearance in the NBA Finals. Oklahoma City last reached the Finals in 2012, while Minnesota has never advanced to the championship series in its history. The series is set to begin with Game 1 on Tuesday night in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City finished the regular season as the top seed in the West, boasting an impressive 68 wins. They started their playoff journey with a sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies. Their second-round series proved to be a tougher test against Nikola Jokić and the reigning champion Denver Nuggets, which went to seven games. The Thunder secured their spot in the Conference Finals with a dominant performance in Game 7. Leading the charge for Oklahoma City throughout the postseason has been Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the likely NBA MVP, who scored 35 points on efficient shooting in the decisive seventh game.
Minnesota features its own superstar scorer in Anthony Edwards, who has guided the Timberwolves to the conference finals for the second consecutive year. Minnesota`s playoff record stands at 8-2 so far, having eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors in the first two rounds. After dropping the opening game against Golden State, Minnesota rallied to win four straight, partly benefiting from a hamstring injury to Stephen Curry.
The Timberwolves are looking for redemption after their Conference Finals exit last postseason, where they lost to the Dallas Mavericks (as described in the original source text). The Thunder are returning to the Conference Finals for the first time since 2016, when they were defeated by the Warriors.
Western Conference Finals Schedule
All times Eastern
- Game 1: Tuesday, May 20 | Timberwolves vs. Thunder | 8:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo
- Game 2: Thursday, May 22 | Timberwolves vs. Thunder | 8:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo
- Game 3: Saturday, May 24 | Thunder vs. Timberwolves | 8:30 p.m., ABC/fubo
- Game 4: Monday, May 26 | Thunder vs. Timberwolves | 8:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo
- *Game 5: Wednesday, May 28 | Timberwolves vs. Thunder | 8:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo
- *Game 6: Friday, May 30 | Thunder vs. Timberwolves | 8:30 p.m., ESPN/fubo
- *Game 7: Sunday, June 1 | Timberwolves vs. Thunder | 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo
Thunder vs. Timberwolves Odds
Odds via DraftKings
- Series odds: Thunder -330, Timberwolves +265
- Game 1 odds: Thunder -7.5, O/U 216
Thunder vs. Timberwolves: Game 1 Best Bet
If Minnesota hopes to compete in this series, winning Game 1 appears crucial, especially given their four-day rest advantage over the Thunder. Oklahoma City will also need to adjust from playing a seven-game series against the Nuggets, a team with a significantly different style of play than the Timberwolves. While this doesn`t guarantee a Minnesota victory, any team reaching the conference finals is likely capable of covering a spread this large under these circumstances. The Pick: Timberwolves +7.5
Jasper Hawthorne