The Oklahoma City Thunder welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves to Paycom Center for Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. Tipoff is set for 8:30 PM ET on Wednesday night. Oklahoma City leads the series 3-1 and can clinch a trip to the NBA Finals with one more win.
Oklahoma City won Game 4 in Minnesota 128-126 behind big games from their top players. The Thunder are 2-0 at home in this series and have outscored the Timberwolves by 41 total points in those two games. Minnesota is trying to stay alive after losing back-to-back games, including a 42-point blowout in Game 3.
Thunder Preview – Big Three Powering the Push
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been the key player for the Thunder all series. He had 40 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds in Game 4. He’s averaging over 30 points per game in the playoffs and leads the team in usage and minutes.
Jalen Williams continues to be a strong second option. He scored 34 points in the last game on 13-for-24 shooting and added 5 assists. Chet Holmgren has helped stretch the floor and protect the rim with 21 points and 3 blocks in Game 4.
The Thunder are 42-7 at home this season and have covered the spread in 59 of their last 98 games. They rank first in the league in steals and opponent turnovers. They’ve hit the team total over in 29 of their last 41 home games and average 113.7 points per game.
Timberwolves Preview – Must Win to Stay Alive
Minnesota needs better production from its stars. Anthony Edwards had 16 points in Game 4 after scoring 33 in Game 3. Julius Randle finished with only 5 points and struggled with his shot, going 1-for-7 from the field.
Jaden McDaniels gave the Timberwolves a boost with 22 points and 4 steals. Rudy Gobert had 13 points and 9 rebounds, and Mike Conley added 6 points and 3 assists. Minnesota shot 50% from the field in the second half but couldn’t close the gap.
The Timberwolves are 28-20 on the road this season and have hit the first quarter moneyline in 23 of their last 34 games. They have also covered the 4th quarter spread in 44 of their last 67. Their defense allows just 107.4 points per game, which is second-best in the league, but they’ve struggled to slow Oklahoma City’s stars.
Betting Prediction
The Thunder are 8.5-point favorites with the total set at 220.5. Oklahoma City is 3-1 ATS this series and has covered both home games with double-digit wins. Their home dominance and elite defense make them the better bet.
Minnesota’s offense has been inconsistent. Edwards and Randle will need to bounce back in a big way to keep it close. Look for OKC to pull away in the second half and close out the series. Final score prediction: Thunder 116, Timberwolves 106.
Pick: Thunder -8.5
The Thunder win the series. Great season for Minnesota, but it comes to an end. Enjoy the game!
