Could 18, 2025; Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder heart Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and guard Cason Wallace (22) rejoice a basket in opposition to the Denver Nuggets within the second half throughout sport seven of the second spherical for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Heart. Necessary Credit score: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Pictures The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder had loads of time without work forward of their first two playoff collection.
Now, within the Western Convention finals in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves, it is going to be the Thunder who come into the collection on brief relaxation whereas their opponent has far 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 Sport 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 Sport 1 to Denver after fading late.
Minnesota had a six-day layoff earlier than every of its first two collection, successful Sport 1 vs. the Los Angeles Lakers and dropping Sport 1 to Golden State. The Timberwolves gained 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 on the lookout for its first finals look since 2012.
The collection options two of the NBA’s prime defenses, each throughout 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 Precious Participant honors, is trying 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 mentioned. “It is onerous to even clarify. If you understand how shut we’re, he is actually like my second brother. He is been by means of each stage of life with me — selecting up a basketball to going to prep faculty 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 in opposition to one another much more particular.
“However I’m making an attempt to take his head off for positive.”
In a 2023 play-in sport, Alexander-Walker helped maintain his cousin to a 5-of-19 capturing evening.
Alexander-Walker mentioned Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistency has lifted him to a unique echelon.
“That comes from diligence, onerous work, seeing it first hand and self-discipline that in truth I have never seen in anyone else,” Alexander-Walker mentioned. “I’ve not seen self-discipline like his. So I feel that is the primary motive why individuals suppose 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 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 kind of video games — a New Yr’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 means of which to have a look at the collection,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned. “It’s going to be completely different.”
–Area Degree Media
