Might 18, 2025; Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder heart Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and guard Cason Wallace (22) have fun a basket in opposition to the Denver Nuggets within the second half throughout recreation seven of the second spherical for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Middle. Necessary Credit score: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Pictures The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder had loads of day without work forward of their first two playoff collection.
Now, within the Western Convention finals in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves, will probably be the Thunder who come into the collection on quick relaxation whereas their opponent has rather more time to get well.
The collection begins Tuesday in Oklahoma Metropolis.
The Thunder are coming off a 125-93 win over the visiting Denver Nuggets on Sunday in Recreation 7 of their second-round collection.
The Timberwolves have not performed in six days after closing out the Golden State Warriors in 5 video games.
Oklahoma Metropolis had one week between video games earlier than its first-round collection in opposition to Memphis after which 9 days between video games earlier than the collection in opposition to the Nuggets.
Within the first spherical, the Thunder opened with a 51-point win over the Grizzlies, however dropped Recreation 1 to Denver after fading late.
Minnesota had a six-day layoff earlier than every of its first two collection, successful Recreation 1 vs. the Los Angeles Lakers and dropping Recreation 1 to Golden State. The Timberwolves received every collection in 5 video games.
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 searching for its first finals look since 2012.
The collection 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 score — factors allowed per 100 possessions — in 11 playoff video games, greatest this postseason. Minnesota’s 106.8 defensive score is second.
It 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 Beneficial Participant honors, is wanting ahead to the matchup in opposition to 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’s going to be very enjoyable,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “It is arduous to even clarify. If you know the way shut we’re, he is actually like my second brother. He is been by each stage of life with me — selecting 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 positive.”
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 special echelon.
“That comes from diligence, arduous work, seeing it first hand and self-discipline that honestly I have never seen in anyone else,” Alexander-Walker stated. “I’ve not seen self-discipline like his. So I believe that is the principle cause why folks assume he is made a soar when actually he is simply been capable of be persistently that, as a result of he is been so disciplined in his method.”
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 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 right framework by which to have a look at the collection,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated. “It’s going to be completely different.”
–Area Stage Media
