February 24, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; The Timberwolves Guard of the Minnesota, Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9), climbs a basket between Oklahoma City Thunder Cason Wallace (22) and striker Jalen Williams (8) Tour the second half in the Paycom center. Mandatory Credit: Images Alonzo Adams-Imagn The Oklahoma City Thunder are strong favorites, since they are the hosts of the game 1 of the western conference finals on Tuesday, but face a Timberwolves team from Minnesota well rested.
While the Thunder are just out of a game of game 7 against Denver on Sunday, the Timberwolves refuge got into Golden State six days ago.
Probabilities and trends
Thunder are favorites of 7.5 consensus points. That includes in Intact, where Timberwolves have been a popular loser with 67 percent of tickets and 69 percent of the money that supports them to cover.
The termination in the total betting line of 216.5 points has attracted 92 percent of the money. That is despite each of the four playoff games of minneotas in which they entered when the helpless got into the total points line.
Support selections
–Alex Caruso 2+ FGS of 3 points made (+110 in the electrors): Caruso has drained at least two clues on four of the last five Thunder games. The sacrifices of an equally more tempting payment in +280 to hit three or more on Tuesday night.
-Julius Randle over 19.5 points (-125 in Draftkings): Randle comes an effort of 29 points in the victory of Minnesota’s 5 game over Golden State, and averaged 25.2 points for the series. That is after an average of 22.6 points against the Lakers in the previous series, and Randle has scored more than 20 points in eight of 10 playoff games.
Playoff History
The Timberwolves are in the finals of the conference for the second consecutive season and the third time in their history. Minnesota has never advanced to the finals of the NBA.
Oklahoma City has been in the late west conference for the first time since 2016 and seeks its first appearance in the NBA finals since 2012.
Feel defensive
The series presents two of the main defenses of the NBA, both the regular season and in the playoffs.
The Thunder has a defensive qualification 101.6, points allowed per 100 possessions, in 11 playoff games, better this postseason. The defensive qualification of Minnestas 106.8 is second.
New era or stars
The confrontation also presents two of the best young stars in the League at the Shai Gilgous-Alexander of Oklahoma City and Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves.
Gilgous-Alexander average 29.0 points, 6.4 assists and 5.9 rebounds this postseason, while Edwards is averaging 26.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists.
Gilgous-Alexander, the leader for the honors of more valuable players, expects the confrontation against cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker or Minnesota.
The two players were born less than two months apart in Toronto and both attended Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanoga, Tenn.
“It will be very fun,” said Gilgous-Alexander. “It’s hard to explain. If you know how close we are, it is literally as my second brother. He is on his leg at each stage of life with me, collecting a basketball school to do the school to do the NBA, we have gone to the special toos, to compete with each other even more special.
“But I’m trying to take my head.”
In a game of 2023, Alexander-Walker helped keep his cousin a shot night of 5 of 19.
Alexander-Walker said that the consistency of Gilgeous-Alexander has led him to a different step.
“That comes from diligence, hard work, seeing it first hand and discipline that the truth that I house in any other person,” said Alexander-Walker. “I do not have a Sene discipline like yours. So I think that is the main reason why people think they have jumped when the real bone can consistently be that, because it is such a disciplined leg in its approach.”
Season series
The teams divided their four -game season series and divided their two games into Oklahoma City.
Rudy Gobert de Minnesota played in just one of those games, a loss of New Year’s Eve, while Chet Holmgren appeared in two of the games for Thunder.
“Apples to apples, I don’t know if those games are the perfect frame to look at the series,” said Thunder Mark Daigneault coach. “It will be different.”
Prediction
The Timberwolves have covered the spread in 16 of their 17 games settings as a loser when they play with a rest advantage, according to intermediaries. So, while Minnesota will be difficult to get a mass road in game 1, do not be surprised to see them. -Tunnder 116, Timberwolves 110
-There’s level media
