NBA Basketball
2025-05-26 - Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NBA Basketball Playoff Western Conference Finals Game 4
Monday 26th May 2025 - Scheduled 8:30pm
1:30am (British Time)
Preview
Well, that escalated quickly!
After back to back dominant wins to open the Western Conference Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder looked to have all of the momentum in the Series ahead of Game 3. However, the Minnesota Timberwolves came out with a huge amount of intensity and thumped the Thunder early and often and the game was never really close just minutes after tip off.
The Timberwolves are going to be feeling that much better ahead of Game 4 as they look to level the Western Conference Finals before having to take another shot at winning in Oklahoma City.
There is still some pressure on Minnesota who would be facing an elimination game later this week if they are beaten at home and they have to expect a much more aggressive and focused Number 1 Seed that played here on Saturday. It will mean the role players need to continue shooting the ball that much better at home than they have on the road, which has been a feature of Minnesota's Playoff run, and they will be hoping Julius Randle has had his one and only poor game in the Western Conference Finals.
It was a poor game from the Oklahoma City Thunder, perhaps their worst of the season, and the starters were all given the Fourth Quarter off. A reaction is going to be needed from a young team that has had their issues on the road, but the Thunder have shown their capabilities all season and will likely be that much more focused after being embarrassed on a national stage.
They should have a bit more Defensive intensity, which was severely lacking in Game 3, but this could be another of the Western Conference Finals games to end up going 'over' the line set.
Three point shooting has been important and the road shooting woes of both teams has to be a concern, but the tempo may see teams heading to the Free Throw line and that can help.
Minnesota did not shoot the ball well at all in Game 1, but have looked a bit better in each of the last two and they can keep that momentum going. We may be ready to see the closest game of the Western Conference Finals so far with so much on the line for both teams and there should be enough quality shooting shown to at least move past this total set.
Prediction
Look for a third straight 'over' in the Western Conference Finals.
The Pick :
Minnesota Timberwolves 115-112 Oklahoma City
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Over 218.5 Total Points at -110 with BetOnline
