The Oklahoma City Thunder Win are on the brink of securing a long-awaited return to the NBA Finals after taking a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals. With a clutch 128-126 victory in Game 4 on Monday, the Thunder can clinch the series at home in Game 5, scheduled for Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m. ET.
It’s been more than a decade since Oklahoma City last reached the Finals in 2012. For Minnesota, the wait has been even longer the Timberwolves have never appeared in an NBA Finals. The stakes are high, and both teams are driven by star power and postseason momentum.
Oklahoma City has shown its dominance all season, entering the playoffs as the West’s top seed after a 68-win regular season. They breezed through the first round with a sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies but faced a tough seven-game battle against the reigning champion Denver Nuggets. Led by MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who dropped 31 points in Game 1 against Minnesota, the Thunder have continued to showcase both offensive firepower and defensive resilience.
Minnesota’s Last Stand: Timberwolves Eye Comeback
The Minnesota Timberwolves, facing elimination, are hoping to extend the series with a Game 5 win on the road. Despite being down 3-1, the team has shown flashes of brilliance. Their explosive 143-101 win in Game 3 demonstrated their offensive potential, but narrow losses in other matchups have put them in a difficult spot.
Anthony Edwards has been at the forefront of Minnesota’s playoff run, leading the team past the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors in the first two rounds. This marks the Timberwolves’ second straight Western Conference finals appearance they lost to the Dallas Mavericks in five games during the 2024 postseason.
Minnesota will need to summon all their defensive grit and scoring depth to avoid another premature exit. If they manage to steal Game 5 in Oklahoma City, the series would return to Minneapolis for a potential Game 6 on Friday. A Game 7, if necessary, is set for Sunday, June 1.
Odds Favor Thunder as Finals Near
According to DraftKings, the odds are heavily in Oklahoma City’s favor. The Thunder are listed at -5000 to win the series, while the Timberwolves sit at +1600. For Game 5, the Thunder win are favored by 8.5 points with an over/under set at 220.5 total points.
Here is the updated Western Conference finals schedule (all times Eastern):
- Game 1: Thunder win 114, Timberwolves 88
- Game 2: Thunder win 118, Timberwolves 103
- Game 3: Timberwolves 143, Thunder 101
- Game 4: Thunder 128, Timberwolves 126 — OKC leads series 3-1
- Game 5: Wednesday, May 28 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN/fubo
- Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 30 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN/fubo
- Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, June 1 | 8 p.m. | ESPN/fubo
With history and momentum on their side, the Thunder win are just one away from punching their ticket to the NBA Finals.
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