The NBA Western Conference Playoffs are down to two teams, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves are coming off two semi-easy series. Minnesota dismantled the Golden State Warriors in five games in each series. As for the Thunder, they are coming off a seven-game war against the Denver Nuggets. With two of the league’s best players, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards, battling for the right to make the NBA Finals, this series should be fireworks!
Minnesota Timberwolves Playoff Success
Despite ending the regular season as the 6th seed in the NBA Western Conference Playoffs, the Timberwolves have been excellent this postseason. In the first round, they upset Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and the Los Angeles Lakers in five games. Then, in the second round, Minnesota dismantled the Golden State Warriors in five games as well. To cruise to the conference finals with back-to-back five-game series is impressive for a young team.
Anthony Edwards has been excellent this postseason. Edwards is averaging 26.5 ppg, 5.9 APG, 8 RPG, and 44.5% from the floor, including 38.5% from downtown. The key to their success has been Julius Randle. In his two previous postseason appearances, Randle averaged 17.3 ppg, shooting 33.6% from the floor and 29.5 % from three. He is averaging 23.9 ppg this postseason and is shooting 50.9 % and 34.5% from three. He has turned his playoff reputation around.
We know the strengths of this team are their physicality, motor, and defense, but the underrated piece of this puzzle is Rudy Gobert‘s willingness to have a minor role through the first two series. For a player who averaged 33 minutes per game in the regular season, he has played 30 or more minutes in two of their 10 playoff games. He has dominated when called upon and has been a +50 when on the court this postseason. Gobert will need to be the dominant defensive player he has always been if the Timberwolves want to break through and make the NBA Finals.
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Playoff Success
The Thunder dominated the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, winning by an average of 19.5 ppg. Now, in their second-round series against the Denver Nuggets, it was a seven-game war against the three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Going into the Nuggets’ series, my only concern was if the games were close, how would the youngest team in the NBA answer? They showed up and showed out!
In Game 4, down 2-1 in the series and down 8 in the 4th quarter, OKC answers with a 21-7 run over a seven-minute stretch. We all know your chances are slim too when the series is down 3-1. In essentially a ‘must-win’ game in enemy territory, they come back and win the next two games. Then, in Game 7, down 10 late in the 1st quarter, the Thunder go on a 21-6 run to take the lead and never look back.
SGA has been great, averaging 29 ppg, 5.9 RPG, and 6.4 APG, while he is below his regular-season shooting percentage. One of his co-stars, Jaylen Williams, must return to the form he was in when they played Memphis. In the first round, he was great, averaging 23.2 ppg. Against Denver, he averaged 17.5 ppg, including only two games where he scored more than 20 points. That will not be good enough to get past Minnesota.
Who Represents the West in the NBA Finals?
When it comes down to these two teams, this series will be electric. For the Timberwolves, winning this series would be something this franchise has never done: make the NBA Finals. As for OKC, this would be their first NBA Finals appearance since 2012. I am predicting the Minnesota Timberwolves will take this series in seven games.
In the four games these teams played against each other in the regular season, they split the series 2-2. With only one game being decided by more than 10 points. In their last meeting on February 24th, 2025, Minnesota trailed by 25 points in the 3rd quarter and came all the way back to win the game in overtime 131-128. What does that mean? No matter how long this series goes. No matter what the deficit is. These games will never be over until that final buzzer sounds.
Final Thoughts
As an NBA and basketball fan, I could not be more excited about this series. On one side, you have the 68-win juggernaut with the MVP in SGA and the most complete team all season long. Then, on the other, you have the “Legend Slayer” with Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, and Rudy Gobert on the other side. The talent in this series provides the possibility that this could be the best series this postseason. Who do you have winning this series and representing the Western Conference in the NBA Finals?
