The NBA conference finals are set. Oklahoma City dismantled the Denver Nuggets on Sunday’s Game 7, and both semifinal matchups are locked in. The Thunder head into the Western Conference Finals as a heavy favorite over the Minnesota Timberwolves, but don’t assume OKC is headed to the Finals just yet. The Wolves could be the team to take down the Thunder.
Oklahoma City Had The Best Record For A Reason
Oklahoma City has had a magical season. The Thunder’s 68-14 record was the best in the NBA, and they finished 19 games ahead of the Timberwolves. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an elite player in the NBA, and Chet Holmgren is a rising star. The Thunder are inexperienced, but that’s their only flaw. And it’s not like the Timberwolves are known for being playoff-tested.
All of these factors have resulted in the Thunder being 7-5 favorites in the series. Most experts say it’ll be Oklahoma City in six games. But the Minnesota Timberwolves are good enough to beat them, and this might be the Wolves’ year.
Why Minnesota Has A Real Chance
The Timberwolves don’t get a lot of attention around the league. Aside from Anthony Edwards, there aren’t a lot of names that make you want to use the Wolves in NBA 2K25. Minnesota is known for its tenacious defense, which may not be the most glamorous trait, but can be fun to watch. It can also be the recipe for beating a team like the Thunder.
Anthony Edwards is always a key player for the Wolves, but three other players have also contributed significantly to their success in the postseason. Julius Randle is averaging over 23 points per game and is playing his best basketball since being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jaden McDaniels has been the Wolves’ X-Factor. But when Minnesota has been dominant, it’s been because Rudy Gobert has been a rebound machine. Gone is the Rudy who tried to create bad shot opportunities. In his place is the dominant rebounder who can finish when fed the ball under the basket.
Those things haven’t all come together for Minnesota this season. It’s been why the Timberwolves have been a slightly disappointing team for most of the 2024-25 season. But now they are. As a result, Minnesota is the hottest team in the NBA.
“It’s Going To Be A Brawl”
It’s not like Oklahoma City is a slouch defensively, either. The Thunder have the top defensive rating in the NBA playoffs. Minnesota is second. As fans, we can probably expect a hard-fought battle that may very well extend to seven games. As ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins put it, “it’s going to be a brawl.”
In the NHL, the hottest team just beat the team with the best record. Mikko Rantanen and the Dallas Stars ousted the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets. If the hottest team wins in the NBA, the Minnesota Timberwolves will be going to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
Who do you have coming out of the Western Conference? Is it finally the year for the Wolves, or will the best team (at least on paper) prevail?
