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 Middle. Necessary Credit score: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Photographs 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 going through a well-rested Minnesota Timberwolves workforce.
Whereas the Thunder are recent off a Recreation 7 victory in opposition to 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 p.c of the tickets and 69 p.c of the cash backing them to cowl.
The Over on the 216.5-point whole bets line has drawn 92 p.c of the cash. That is regardless of every of Minnesota’s previous 4 playoff video games the place they entered because the underdog going underneath the overall factors line.
PROP PICKS
–Alex Caruso 2+ 3-Level FGs Made (+110 at BetRivers): Caruso has drained at the least two three-pointers in 4 of the Thunder’s previous 5 video games. He provides an much more tantalizing payout at +280 to hit three or extra on Tuesday evening.
–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 collection. That is after averaging 22.6 factors in opposition to the Lakers within the earlier collection, 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 on the lookout for its first NBA Finals look since 2012.
FEELING DEFENSIVE
The collection options two of the NBA’s high defenses, each in the course of the common season and within the playoffs.
The Thunder boast a 101.6 defensive score — factors allowed per 100 possessions — in 11 playoff video games, greatest this postseason. Minnesota’s 106.8 defensive score is second.
NEW ERA OF STARS
The matchup additionally options two of the league’s high 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 Helpful Participant honors, is wanting ahead to the matchup in opposition to cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker of Minnesota.
The 2 gamers had been born lower than two months aside in Toronto and each attended Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tenn.
“It’s going to be very enjoyable,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “It is arduous to even clarify. If you understand how shut we’re, he is actually like my second brother. He is been by each stage of life with me — choosing up a basketball to going to prep faculty to creating the NBA, we have gone by each state of affairs collectively. For each of us to be the place we’re is particular, to compete in opposition to one another much more particular.
“However I’m attempting to take his head off for certain.”
In a 2023 play-in recreation, Alexander-Walker helped maintain his cousin to a 5-of-19 capturing evening.
Alexander-Walker stated Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistency has lifted him to a distinct echelon.
“That comes from diligence, arduous work, seeing it firsthand and self-discipline that in truth I have not seen in anyone else,” Alexander-Walker stated. “I’ve not seen self-discipline like his. So I feel that is the principle motive why folks assume he is made a soar when actually he is simply been in a position to be constantly that, as a result of he is been so disciplined in his strategy.”
SEASON SERIES
The groups break up their four-game season collection and break up their two video games in Oklahoma Metropolis.
Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert performed in simply a kind 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 which to take a look at the collection,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated. “It’s going to be completely different.”
PREDICTION
The Timberwolves have coated 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 can 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
