Feb 24, 2025; Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) goes up for a basket between Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) and ahead Jalen Williams (8) in the course of the second half at Paycom Heart. Obligatory Credit score: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Photos
The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder are heavy favorites as they play host to Recreation 1 of the Western Convention finals on Tuesday, however they are going to be dealing with a well-rested Minnesota Timberwolves crew.
Whereas the Thunder are recent off a Recreation 7 victory towards Denver on Sunday, the Timberwolves have not performed since eliminating Golden State six days in the past.
ODDS & TRENDS
The Thunder are consensus 7.5-point favorites. That features at BetRivers, the place the Timberwolves have been a preferred underdog with 67 % of the tickets and 69 % of the cash backing them to cowl.
The Over on the 216.5-point whole bets line has drawn 92 % of the cash. That is regardless of every of Minnesota’s previous 4 playoff video games the place they entered because the underdog going beneath the full factors line.
PROP PICKS
–Alex Caruso 2+ 3-Level FGs Made (+110 at BetRivers): Caruso has drained a minimum of two three-pointers in 4 of the Thunder’s previous 5 video games. He affords an much more tantalizing payout at +280 to hit three or extra on Tuesday night time.
–Julius Randle Over 19.5 Factors (-125 at DraftKings): Randle is coming off a 29-point effort in Minnesota’s Recreation 5 victory over Golden State, and averaged 25.2 factors for the sequence. That is after averaging 22.6 factors towards the Lakers within the earlier sequence, and Randle has scored 20-plus factors in eight of 10 playoff video games.
PLAYOFF HISTORY
The Timberwolves are within the convention finals for the second consecutive season and the third time of their historical past. Minnesota has by no means superior to the NBA Finals.
Oklahoma Metropolis is within the Western Convention finals for the primary time since 2016 and in search of its first NBA Finals look since 2012.
FEELING DEFENSIVE
The sequence options two of the NBA’s prime defenses, each in the course of the common season and within the playoffs.
The Thunder boast a 101.6 defensive ranking — factors allowed per 100 possessions — in 11 playoff video games, finest this postseason. Minnesota’s 106.8 defensive ranking is second.
NEW ERA OF STARS
The matchup additionally options two of the league’s prime younger stars in Oklahoma Metropolis’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards.
Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 29.0 factors, 6.4 assists and 5.9 rebounds this postseason whereas Edwards is averaging 26.5 factors, 8.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the front-runner for Most Priceless Participant honors, is wanting ahead to the matchup towards cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker of Minnesota.
The 2 gamers have been born lower than two months aside in Toronto and each attended Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tenn.
“It will be very enjoyable,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “It is laborious to even clarify. If you know the way shut we’re, he is actually like my second brother. He is been by means of each stage of life with me — choosing up a basketball to going to prep college to creating the NBA, we have gone by means of each scenario collectively. For each of us to be the place we’re is particular, to compete towards one another much more particular.
“However I’m attempting to take his head off for positive.”
In a 2023 play-in recreation, Alexander-Walker helped maintain his cousin to a 5-of-19 taking pictures night time.
Alexander-Walker mentioned Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistency has lifted him to a unique echelon.
“That comes from diligence, laborious work, seeing it firsthand and self-discipline that honestly I have never seen in anyone else,” Alexander-Walker mentioned. “I’ve not seen self-discipline like his. So I believe that is the primary motive why individuals assume he is made a leap when actually he is simply been in a position to be persistently that, as a result of he is been so disciplined in his method.”
SEASON SERIES
The groups break up their four-game season sequence and break up their two video games in Oklahoma Metropolis.
Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert performed in simply a type of video games — a New 12 months’s Eve loss — whereas Chet Holmgren appeared in two of the video games for the Thunder.
“Apples to apples, I do not know if these video games are the proper framework by means of which to have a look at the sequence,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned. “It will be completely different.”
PREDICTION
The Timberwolves have lined the unfold in 16 of their previous 17 video games as an underdog when enjoying with a relaxation benefit, in line with BetRivers. So, whereas Minnesota shall be hard-pressed to tug an enormous highway upset in Recreation 1, do not be shocked to see them cowl. –Thunder 116, Timberwolves 110
–Subject Degree Media
