Thunder vs. Timberwolves: Who wins the West? Series keys, schedule and
The Western Conference’s top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14) will face the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33) in the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs. The two franchises have not met in the playoffs since 1998, when the Thunder were still in Seattle, performing as the SuperSonics.
What we know about Oklahoma City
The Thunder were incredible throughout the regular season, becoming the seventh team ever to win 68 games and registering the second-best net rating (12.8) in league history. They were equally impressive in the first round of this year’s playoffs, outscoring the Memphis Grizzlies by a total of 78 points in a sweep.
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OKC struggled against the Denver Nuggets in the second round, needing a seventh game to escape the series. This is understandable, since the Nuggets are a former champion led by Nikola Jokić, the world’s best player. It is also somewhat troubling, because Denver’s rotation was as beleaguered as we have seen in this injury-plagued postseason, and the Thunder often looked the part of the NBA’s youngest roster.
They are led by 26-year-old Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s likely MVP. He averaged a league-leading 32.7 points (on 52/38/90 shooting splits) during the regular season, adding 6.4 assists, 5 rebounds and 2.7 combined steals and blocks in 34.2 minutes per game. He was every bit as impressive against Denver.
Gilgeous-Alexander is supported by Jalen Williams, who made his first All-Star Game this season. The 24-year-old added a 22-5-5 on 48/37/80 splits in the regular season. He was, for the most part, less effective against Denver, emboldening questions about his preparedness as a second option on a title contender.
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Williams did show up for Game 7 against Denver, as did Chet Holmgren, who might have made an All-Star team had he not lost three months to a fractured hip. Holmgren unlocks all types of lineup combinations with his ability to space the floor offensively and protect the rim…
