The Oklahoma City Thunder could sound the death knell of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 2024-25 NBA season with a win in Game 3. But that is going to be easier said than done, with the Timberwolves playing at home. Will the Thunder strike again for a 3-0 series lead? Or, will the Timberwolves show some life and score their first win versus OKC?
Catch this game live on Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 8:30 AM, Manila time.
Away: Oklahoma City Thunder (2-0)
Projected Starting Five:
- Mike Conley
- Anthony Edwards
- Jaden McDaniels
- Julius Randle
- Rudy Gobert
The Thunder appear to be running away with the series in the Western Conference finals. Sure, they have yet to play Minnesota on the road, but through two games, the Thunder have outscored the Timberwolves by 41 points. In Game 2, the Thunder whipped Minnesota to the tune of a 118-103 score, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dumping 38 points on the visitors. But he’s hardly the only problem for the Timberwolves in that contest, as Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren had 26 and 22 points, respectively, for the Thunder, who shot 50.0 percent from the field and committed only six turnovers.
With Gilgeous-Alexander as the fulcrum of the offense, the Thunder are shooting 50.0 percent from the field in the series. Oklahoma City’s attack is only matched by its defense, which is creating even more problems for the Timberwolves, who are turning the ball over 16.5 times per game in the series. Minnesota is also just making 38.2 percent of its shots, with neither Anthony Edwards nor Julius Randle shooting better than 46 percent.
Home: Minnesota Timberwolves (0-2)
Projected Starting Five:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Luguentz Dort
- Jalen Williams
- Chet Holmgren
- Isaiah Hartenstein
The Timberwolves will find out just what exactly they are made of, as they remain winless in the conference championship round. After cakewalking their way in the first and the second round against the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors, Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves are facing real adversity. One good news for them is that they are finally going to play at home against the Thunder. They have lost just once in the Twin Cities in this postseason.
Playing at home could light a fire under Randle, who shot just 2-for-11 for six points with four turnovers and got benched in the fourth quarter of Game 2. Meanwhile, Edwards had 32 points in that contest but needed 26 shots to get there and was 1-for-9 from behind the arc. But it would surely be great for Minnesota if another player could step up. Haden McDaniels could be that guy in Game 3 after he scored 22 points on Friday. Donte DiVincenzo could also be due for a big game after scoring just 17 points on a horrendous 27.3 field goal percentage.
PICKS:
Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder (-2.5)
Over/Under: Over (218.0)
