The second round is set in the 2025 NBA playoff bracket. The Western Conference has a familiar lineup as the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves are back for another battle, marking their consecutive year in the playoffs. Importantly, the Golden State Warriors have now replaced the Dallas Mavericks who were last year’s finalists.

The Thunder, having lost to the Mavericks in the past, will be matched against the Nuggets this time. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves will face the Warriors, who have just triumphed over the Rockets in a thrilling Game 7 to move forward.

Despite the Timberwolves and Thunder being favorites to reach the Western Conference finals, surprises are always possible in the playoffs. Below are the expert predictions for these matchups.

No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 4 Denver Nuggets

Series odds (via FanDuel): Thunder -900, Nuggets +610

Matchup	Prediction
Thunder vs. Nuggets	Botkin: Thunder in 6
	Herbert: Thunder in 6
	Maloney: Thunder in 5
	Quinn: Thunder in 5
	Ward-Henninger: Thunder in 5
	Wimbish: Thunder in 6

Insights

• Botkin: Thunder in 6.

  Oklahoma City is too deep for the Nuggets to match, and they will outplay Denver’s defense. It will be intriguing to see how the best player matches up against the best team. Ultimately, OKC has too much talent on both ends of the court.

• Herbert: Thunder in 6.

  The Nuggets might snag a couple of wins if OKC struggles with three-point shots. However, the Thunder’s defensive prowess might overwhelm Denver’s potential.

No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 7 Golden State Warriors

Series odds (via FanDuel): Timberwolves -178, Warriors +150

Matchup	Prediction
Timberwolves vs. Warriors	Botkin: Timberwolves in 6
	Herbert: Warriors in 7
	Maloney: Timberwolves in 7
	Quinn: Timberwolves in 7
	Ward-Henninger: Warriors in 7
	Wimbish: Timberwolves in 6

Insights

• Botkin: Timberwolves in 6.

  The Timberwolves will create challenges for the Warriors, capitalizing on their size and athleticism, even with star Anthony Edwards in the mix.

• Herbert: Warriors in 7.

  The Timberwolves may be stronger, but I can’t count out the Warriors. Their playoff experience may enable them to capitalize in close games.

In both series, the momentum can shift rapidly, and the unpredictable nature of the playoffs will surely keep fans on their toes.