It’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals Tuesday night at Paycom Center.
The Thunder and Timberwolves split their regular-season series at 2-2.
Top-seeded OKC is coming off a Game 7 rout of the Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. Meanwhile, six-seeded Minnesota hasn’t played since May 15 after the Timberwolves beat the Golden State Warriors in five games.
Here what you need to know about the Thunder-Timberwolves game:
Thunder vs Timberwolves live score updates in Game 1 of NBA Playoffs
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Tulsa native Ben Rector — known for hits including “Living My Best Life” — sang the national anthem before Game 1.
OKC goes with the double-big lineup again with Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein joining Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort and Jalen Williams.
The Timberwolves will go with Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert.
Cousins Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have faced each other 15 times now in the NBA — including once in a play-in game — but never in a playoff series.
Read Joe Mussatto’s story HERE.
Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch knows his team is in for a unique challenge for the first time this postseason.
After overwhelming both the Lakers and Warriors with imposing frontcourt depth, Minnesota now faces a Thunder squad that’s equipped to match their size and physicality.
The Timberwolves have leaned heavily on their towering frontline of Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid so far these playoffs. That size paid dividends, particularly in their series-clinching Game 5 win over Golden State, where they outscored the Warriors 72–50 in points in the paint.
But the Thunder aren’t likely to be overrun.
OKC’s frontcourt trio of Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams held their own against three-time MVP Nikola Jokić in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The feat that didn’t go unnoticed by Finch.
“There’s going to be more size out there around the rim, on the glass and other things we have to really pay attention to,” Finch said.
“I’m sure these guys will at points in the game try to go small, but generally there will be a lot more traditional size out there. We have to do a really good job of protecting the paint and getting them away from the rim.”
—Jordan Davis, Staff writer
The Thunder doesn’t have a great idea of this surging version of the Timberwolves. To call Oklahoma City blind isn’t accurate, but beer-goggled might be.
They played a quirky four-game regular season series, with a slew of injuries defining those games. Three of them occurred in a two-week span. OKC never saw this version of Julius Randle.
Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals is about data.
“Tonight’s more about establishing a baseline in the series, and understanding where we’re starting, you know, and then going from there,” coach Mark Daigneault said.
“Trying to anticipate them too much is kind of a waste of time, to be honest. We got to just go out there and play tonight.”
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Finch, asked if he knew OKC could be so young and competent: “You could see this thing coming a couple years ago. … They’ve had an identity for a few years, they just keep growing into it. They have a pecking order. They have a lot of things in place that most teams don’t.”
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Our Justin Martinez caught up with a few Thunder fans outside Paycom Center before Game 1 of the Thunder-Timberwolves series.
How do OKC Thunder fans feel about conference finals series vs Minnesota?
The OKC Thunder will face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals. Here’s what OKC fans think about the matchup.
- Date: Tuesday, May 20
- Time: 7:30 p.m. CT
- Where: Paycom Center in OKC
The Thunder vs Timberwolves game starts at 7:30 p.m. CT Tuesday from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
Where to watch Thunder vs Timberwolves tonight in NBA Playoffs?
- TV: ESPN
- How to watch online: Fubo (free trial)
- Radio: WWLS 98.1 FM
The Thunder vs Timberwolves game will be broadcast on ESPN. It can be streamed on Fubo and ESPN+.
Western Conference finals: Thunder vs. Timberwolves
- Game 1: Minnesota at OKC | 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN)
- Game 2: Minnesota at OKC | 7:30 p.m. Thursday (ESPN)
- Game 3: OKC at Minnesota | 7:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC)
- Game 4: OKC at Minnesota | 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 26 (ESPN)
- Game 5 (If necessary): Minnesota at OKC | 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 28 (ESPN)
- Game 6 (If necessary): OKC at Minnesota | 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 30 (ESPN)
- Game 7 (If necessary): Minnesota at OKC | 7 p.m. Sunday, June 1 (ESPN)
Thunder vs. Nuggets betting odds
Odds via BetMGM as of Sunday, May 4
Odds: Thunder by 9.5
Over/under: 225.5
Moneyline: OKC -450 | Denver +340
Thunder vs. Timberwolves prediction, picks
Justin Martinez: OKC 108, Minnesota 103
Minnesota used its size to its advantage in the previous two rounds against the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. But now it’ll face OKC, which has a 7-foot duo of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. The Thunder also has plenty of defenders who can make life difficult for Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle. And offensively, OKC is entering the game with momentum after a blowout Game 7 win over Denver. I’m picking the Thunder to keep rolling at home.
Thunder vs. Timberwolves highlights in Game 1 of Western Conference finals
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