NBA Basketball
2025-05-20 - Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NBA Basketball Playoff Western Conference Finals Game 1
Tuesday 20th May 2025 - Scheduled 8:30pm
1:30am (British Time)
Preview
If the regular season is anything to go by, the Western Conference Finals could be an incredibly competitive Series.
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder split four regular season games and they were largely competitive affairs- the Thunder had two wins by 7 and 8 points respectively, while the Timberwolves won a game by 15 points and the other by just 3 points after Overtime.
Having a few more days of rest could be important for the Timberwolves after easing past the Golden State Warriors in five games. On the other side, the Oklahoma City Thunder just completed a Game 7 win over the Denver Nuggets and will have one day to rest and prepare for this opening game of the Western Conference Finals, which is far from ideal for any team, even one as good as the Thunder.
A positive for the Number 1 Seed is that they were not really taxed in Game 7 of the Second Round Series and that will have allowed key players to earn some rest. The blowout win over the Denver Nuggets also reminded the rest of the NBA of the depth that Oklahoma City can lean on as they bid to reach the NBA Finals.
Experience can still be a factor and that is where the Timberwolves may be able to lean on 2024 and use that disappointing Western Conference Finals defeat to the Dallas Mavericks to inspire better in 2025. They were the hosts of those Conference Finals, which would have hurt Minnesota even more, but getting back here twelve months later as the Number 6 Seed in the West will just remind the players of how good they actually are.
Winning Game 7 and then moving into a new Series is a tough spot for the Thunder to be in, but even more so when you think of the lack of rest they are getting.
They will also be in a tough spot with the spread- Conference Finals favourites being asked to lay at least five points are now 1-12 against the spread across the last two Playoffs and even with the depth the Thunder have, it could be a big ask on limited rest to be ready to push past this number set for Game 1.
With Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle looking good, the Timberwolves have been a good team to back with the points during this Playoff run and they could begin with a cover, if not the outright upset to take away home court. They have matched up well with the Thunder throughout the regular season and Minnesota may have been anticipating this opponent for the Western Conference Finals and so being underprepared is not really going to be an excuse that they can lean on.
Opposing the Thunder and their ability to blowout teams is not an easy decision, but the spot looks a good one for the Minnesota Timberwolves to keep this one very competitive, and especially with this many points being given to them.
Prediction
Take the points with the road underdog.
The Pick :
Oklahoma City 113-109 Minnesota Timberwolves
