The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder split their series in the regular season, but that’s ancient history now. These two teams will duke it out in the 2025 NBA Western Conference finals, beginning this Wednesday in Oklahoma City. Who draws first blood?
Catch this game live on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 8:30 AM, Manila time.
Away: Minnesota Timberwolves (0-0)
Projected Starting Five:
- Mike Conley
- Anthony Edwards
- Jaden McDaniels
- Julius Randle
- Rudy Gobert
It’s back to the Western Conference finals for Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves. But this time, instead of Karl-Anthony Towns in the frontcourt with Rudy Gobert, it’s Julius Randle, who is coming off an incredible series against the Golden State Warriors. In the second round, Randle averaged 25.2 points, 7.4 assists and 6.6 rebounds per game while shooting 53.3 percent from the field. His ability to set the table as a big man and his efficiency on offense can give the Thunder trouble.
Then there’s Anthony Edwards, whose 3-point shooting improvement adds another terrifying layer to his arsenal. He averaged 26.2 points with a 44.2 percent success rate from deep in the Warriors series. As a team, the Timberwolves’ 57.3 TS% in the 2025 NBA Playoffs is better than the Thunder’s 55.8 TS%. But what’s not to be overlooked as well is Minnesota’s stout defense. Among all teams that made the postseason, the Timberwolves are second with 114.6 points allowed per 100 possessions.
Home: Oklahoma City Thunder (0-0)
Projected Starting Five:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Luguentz Dort
- Jalen Williams
- Chet Holmgren
- Isaiah Hartenstein
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander passed a tough test in the second round, as they needed seven games to dispose of Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. The Timberwolves present a different challenge for the Thunder. This time around, instead of an overpowering do-it-all big man, the Thunder’s defense will deal with a hotshot shooting guard as the opposing side’s best player. The good news for the Thunder is that they are also defensively well-equipped on the perimeter.
Oklahoma City has Lu Dort and Alex Caruso, who can give Edwards problems. Meanwhile, Isaiah Hartenstein provides muscle in the paint and a solid complement for Chet Holmgren, who, despite his frame, is a capable rim protector. The former Gonzaga Bulldogs star is third among all players in the playoffs with 2.2 blocks per contest. Oklahoma isn’t too shabby either defensively as a team, as the team is No. 1 in the playoffs with a 101.6 defensive rating. Also expect the Thunder to get extra chances against the turnover-prone Timberwolves, who have a 15.7 percent turnover rate.
Picks
Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder (-7.5)
Over/Under: Under (216.5)
