A pivotal matchup is set as the Minnesota Timberwolves, seeded sixth, face off against the first-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Western Conference Finals, starting with Game 1 on Tuesday at 8:30 PM ET. The series could extend to June 1 if it reaches seven games.

The Timberwolves have shown impressive form, defeating both the Lakers and Warriors in just five games in the playoffs. Conversely, the Thunder swept the Grizzlies but faced a tense Game 7 against the Nuggets.

According to the latest odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, Oklahoma City is favored to win the series at -330 (bet $330 to win $100), while Minnesota sits at +265. The over/under for total games is set at 5.5, with the over slightly favored at -135 and under at +115. SportsLine’s Stephen Oh provides projections on how to approach betting on the NBA Western Conference Finals.

Stephen Oh, known for his expertise in data modeling, has seen his projection model yield over $10,000 in betting profits for $100 players on top-rated NBA picks in the past six seasons. Currently, he holds a 68% success rate on NBA picks against the spread this season.

Top Picks for Timberwolves vs. Thunder Series

1. Thunder to win the series (-330)
2. Thunder to win in five games (+300)

Oh’s projection model indicates that betting on the Thunder outright has an 87% simulation success rate. While the Timberwolves displayed superior athleticism against the Lakers and Warriors, they face a more formidable opponent in the Thunder, who had the best regular season record.

“Minnesota now meets the only team that boasts greater athleticism, length, and youth, alongside a superstar in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is even more formidable than Anthony Edwards,” Oh noted.

For bets on the series, DraftKings offers competitive prices, particularly on Thunder at -330.

If looking for a better odds opportunity, Oh suggests backing the Thunder to win in five games at +300, which is considered a valuable proposition, hitting in about 32% of simulations.

For more detailed betting strategies and perspectives from the SportsLine projection model, explore the vast options of analysis and insights available.