Thunder and Timberwolves Clash: Which Dark Horse Will Dominate the West in This Pivotal Showdown?

Alright, here we go — the showdown we’ve been itching to see in this year’s Western Conference: the Oklahoma City Thunder, cruising with a staggering 68-14 record, are gearing up to tangle with the Minnesota Timberwolves, sitting comfortably at 49-33, in round two of the 2025 NBA playoffs. Now, this isn’t just any playoff meeting; these two sides haven’t crossed paths in the postseason since 1998 — back when the Thunder still called Seattle home, rocking the SuperSonics nickname. It’s a throwback spark waiting to ignite.

Oklahoma City has been an absolute juggernaut this season, carving their name among an elite group of teams to hit 68 wins, and backing that up with one of the most lethal net ratings the league’s ever seen. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s journey has been a bit of a rollercoaster — a midseason shake-up sent former No. 1 pick Karl-Anthony Towns packing, but out came a retooled roster that surged in the final stretch and kept its playoff flame alive, knocking off big names along the way.

This series promises a fascinating chess match — young guns with something to prove versus a gritty, battle-tested squad that thrives on depth and defense. I’m curious — can the Thunder’s relentless pressure disrupt the Wolves’ renewed chemistry? Or will Minnesota’s rising stars, led by Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle, find a way to make a statement against the West’s best? Strap in, because this one’s shaping up to be a memorable clash.

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What we know about Oklahoma City

Game 3: Saturday @ Minnesota (8:30 p.m., ABC)*Game 5: Wed., May 28 @ Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m., ESPN)

*Game 5: Wed., May 28 @ Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m., ESPN)

*Game 5: Wed., May 28 @ Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m., ESPN)

*Game 5: Wed., May 28 @ Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m., ESPN)

*Game 5: Wed., May 28 @ Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m., ESPN)

*Game 5: Wed., May 28 @ Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m., ESPN)

*Game 5: Wed., May 28 @ Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m., ESPN)

*Game 5: Wed., May 28 @ Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m., ESPN)

Prediction: Thunder in 6

*Game 5: Wed., May 28 @ Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m., ESPN)

The Thunder’s starting lineup — Gilgeous-Alexander, Dort, Williams, Holmgren and Hartenstein — is also Oklahoma City’s most-used quintet in fourth quarters of playoff games. While Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault has played Caruso in some small-ball lineups late in games, OKC’s starting five has also played the team’s most clutch minutes. That unit outscored opponents by 15 points per 100 possessions in the regular season. They are only +2 for the entire playoffs. And they have barely faced Minnesota this year.AdvertisementThey are led by 26-year-old Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s likely MVP. He averaged a league-leading 32.7 points (on 52/38/90 shooting splits) during the regular season, adding 6.4 assists, 5 rebounds and 2.7 combined steals and blocks in 34.2 minutes per game. He was every bit as impressive against Denver.Gilgeous-Alexander is supported by Jalen Williams, who made his first All-Star Game this season. The 24-year-old added a 22-5-5 on 48/37/80 splits in the regular season. He was, for the most part, less effective against Denver, emboldening questions about his preparedness as a second option on a title contender.The Wolves have carried that momentum into the playoffs, defeating both the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors in five games. The Lakers lacked depth beyond LeBron James and Luka Dončić, and the Warriors were largely without Stephen Curry, but Minnesota did what it was supposed to do.