Western Conference Finals Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (7)

Photo credit: Jordan Johnson, NBAE, Getty Images 2025

The Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t supposed to be here. 

Despite 68 wins, the 3rd best offensive rating (119.2), top defensive rating (106.6), 4th most points per game (120.5), giving up the 3rd fewest amount of points per game (107.6), and top five finishes in defensive rebounds (34.2, 5th), and giving up the fewest field goal percentage in the league (43.6%) and being the best free-throw shooting team (81.9%), they were still doubted. Inexperienced. Their best player, the presumptive MVP who would be the second Canadian to ever win the award, is labeled as a foul-baiter. Do they play “playoff basketball”? 

Well, for a team that isn’t supposed to be here, they sure had teams chasing them all year long. The Los Angeles Lakers traded for a young superstar at the trade deadline to pair with LeBron James in hopes of a long playoff run. If Luka Doncic led the Dallas Mavericks to the Finals last year, having him and LeBron team up was a guaranteed win. Right? 

The Minnesota Timberwolves aren’t supposed to be here, either. 

The Wolves, like the Thunder, are young, confident, have a bullish bucket getter, 3 and D wings, and depth. They’ve got a traditional center who rebounds and blocks shots. Where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (27.8 points, 6.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 40.2% shooting in Round 1; 29.7 points, 6.6 assists, 6.4 rebounds, 52.9% shooting in Round 2) stands, Anthony Edwards (26.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 42.0% shooting in Round 1; 26.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 47.5% shooting in Round 2) shadows him. The superstar pair has played 16 games against each other in their careers - Edwards 20.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists. Gilgeous-Alexander since facing Edwards’ led Wolves teams (2021) is averaging 29.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.1 rebounds. One is a two guard and one is a point, so they are not locked on each other all the time. Tasked with guarding SGA will be cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Mike Conley, and surely a mix of Jaden McDaniels and Edwards at times. Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, and Cason Wallace figure to take turns at Edwards.

Where Jalen Williams stands, McDaniels shadows him. Alexander-Walker and Conley stand up to Dort and Caruso. Wallace will chase Donte DiVincenzo. Caruso defends deviantly, dunks on you, and shoots the three. Naz Reid splashes a 3-pointer and goes off the dribble. Chet Holmgren is long and rangy, blocks shots, can shoot the 3, and scores back door and baseline lobs. Julius Randle can shoot the 3, attack the basket, rebound, and pass. Holmgren averaged 18.5 points and 7.8 rebounds in Round 1, 14.1 points and 10.9 rebounds in Round 2. Randle averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 48.1% shooting in Round 1 and 25.2 points, 7.4 assists, 6.6 rebounds, and shot 53.3% in Round 2.

Isaiah Hartenstein rebounds at a high level and is a shot-blocking presence, has a clever push shot and is a lob threat. He was the missing piece for the Thunder. Rudy Gobert blocks shots, catches lobs, rebounds, and is a 4-time defensive player of the year. Like him or not, he’ll be in the Hall of Fame one day. 

The Wolves were 5th in opponent points per game (109.3), 8th in offensive rating (115.7), 6th in defensive rating (110.8), 7th in opponent field-goal percentage (46.0%), 4th in 3-point percentage (37.7%), 4th in 3-pointers made (15.0), 5th in 3s attempted (39.9), 8th in free-throws made (17.2), and 9th in free-throw percentage (78.9%). 

The season series went 113-105 Thunder (December 31 in OKC), 116-101 Timberwolves (February 13 in OKC), 130-123 Thunder (February 23 in Minnesota), and 131-128 Timberwolves in overtime (February 24, at OKC).

To get here, the Thunder swept the Memphis Grizzlies, taking Game 1 of that series by 51 points. On Sunday, they dismantled the Denver Nuggets in a home Game 7, 125-93. Their defense was all over the place. The Nuggets were another team that was thought to knock off the Thunder. Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr. were champions. 

Not supposed to be here. 

Ironically, it was the Timberwolves (49 regular season wins) who disposed of the Lakers and Warriors, the two teams that had beefed up in hopes of a title run. The bullish Edwards became the bully. 

This series will be the best of the postseason thus far. Two teams with young cores, two teams that play a similar brand of basketball. Two teams with youth. Two teams that said that playoff experience is overrated. 

Two teams that weren’t supposed to be here. 

In the end, the Timberwolves (slightly) play a more complete game. 

Minnesota in 7.