Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the NBA match.
The longest series of the second round has concluded, and the finalists of the Western Conference have now been decided. The Minnesota Timberwolves clearly have last year’s 1:4 defeat to the Dallas Mavericks in mind and will be determined to avoid repeating past mistakes.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are among the top three highest-scoring teams in this year’s playoffs, averaging 116.3 points per game. Their leader, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, continues to shine with averages of 29 points and 6.4 assists per game. Notably, the Thunder remain solid defensively, conceding approximately 105.3 points on average. More importantly, they are holding opponents to a shooting percentage of just 41.4%, the best mark for defensive efficiency in the playoffs. This could prove decisive against the Minnesota Timberwolves, whose perimeter shooters have struggled.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are producing significantly fewer points, averaging 108.2 per game. Their offence is heavily dependent on the duo of Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, who combine for 50.4 points per game. However, the Oklahoma City Thunder recently neutralised the pairing of Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, a duo arguably even more potent. As a result, Chris Finch urgently needs to identify alternative offensive contributors. Unfortunately for the squad, that remains a major concern. Jalen McDaniels is shooting a dismal 16.8% from beyond the arc in these playoffs, while Rudy Gobert is averaging fewer than nine points per game.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction
The Oklahoma City Thunder have had minimal downtime following their series against the Denver Nuggets, which keeps them in peak condition. In contrast, the Minnesota Timberwolves appear to have lost their competitive rhythm, and it's likely they will struggle to offer a serious challenge in the opening game. A modest-margin home win looks the most plausible outcome.
