After a grueling seven-game series win, the top-seeded Oklahoma Thunder take on the well-rested sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the 2025 Western Conference Finals on Tuesday. Oklahoma City defeated Denver 4-3 in the semifinals, while Minnesota won four of five against Golden State. The Timberwolves (49-33), who are in the Western finals for the second year in a row, are looking to reach the NBA Finals for the first time. The Thunder (68-14), who are in the conference finals for the first time since 2015-2016, last reached the NBA Finals in 2011-2012, when they lost in five games to the Miami Heat.
Tipoff from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City is set for 8:30 p.m. ET. The teams split four meetings during the regular season. The Thunder are 7.5-point favorite in the latest Timberwolves vs. Thunder odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 215.5. Before making any Timberwolves vs. Thunder picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions from SportsLine’s Matt Severance.
Severance is a well-connected writer and handicapper who has worked in the industry since 2005. Over his past 251 NBA money line picks, he has gone 161-89-1 and is up $3,236. Anyone following could have seen huge returns.
Now, Severance has analyzed Timberwolves vs. Thunder and just revealed his coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Timberwolves vs. Thunder. Use a DraftKings promo code, a FanDuel promo code or a BetMGM promo code to get started.
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Timberwolves vs. Thunder spread |
Oklahoma City -7.5 at DraftKings |
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Timberwolves vs. Thunder over/under |
215.5 points |
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Timberwolves vs. Thunder money line |
Oklahoma City -305, Minnesota +245 |
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Timberwolves vs. Thunder picks |
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Timberwolves vs. Thunder streaming |
FuboTV (Try for free) |
Why the Thunder can cover
Helping power the Oklahoma City offense is MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In 11 post season starts, the point guard is averaging 29 points, 6.4 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 36.6 minutes. In Sunday’s Game 7 win over the Nuggets, he poured in 35 points, while adding four assists, three rebounds and three steals. In a 119-107 loss at Denver on Thursday in Game 6, he scored 32 points, dished out six assists and grabbed three rebounds.
Forward Jalen Williams is also a solid option on offense for the Thunder. In the decisive Game 7 win over Denver, he scored 24 points, while adding seven assists and grabbing five rebounds. He had 32 points, five assists and three rebounds in a 113-104 overtime loss to the Nuggets in Game 3 on May 9. In 11 playoff starts, he is averaging 19.6 points, 5.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 35 minutes. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why the Timberwolves can cover
Minnesota is led by shooting guard Anthony Edwards. In 10 postseason games, all starts, he is averaging 26.5 points, eight rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.5 steals in 39.9 minutes. In Wednesday’s Game 5 close-out win over the Golden State Warriors, he registered a double-double with 22 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds and three blocks in 41 minutes. In a 117-110 Game 4 win over the Warriors, he poured in 30 points, while adding five assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Power forward Julius Randle is coming off a dominant series against Golden State. In Game 5 of the series, he scored 29 points, while adding eight rebounds and five assists in 43 minutes. In Game 3, he registered a triple-double with 24 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in a 102-97 win. In 10 playoff starts, he is averaging 23.9 points, 5.9 assists and 5.9 rebounds in 37.6 minutes. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make Thunder vs. Timberwolves picks
Now, Severance has locked in another confident against-the-spread pick for Timberwolves vs. Thunder. He is leaning Over on the total, but he knows a crucial X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back. You absolutely need to see what it is before locking in any picks of your own.
So who wins Timberwolves vs. Thunder, and what X-factor makes one side of the spread hit hard? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Thunder vs. Timberwolves spread to jump on, all from the expert that has returned over $4,400 on his NBA picks over the past three seasons, and find out.
