The Western Conference finals feature a showdown between the Oklahoma City Thunder (1st seed) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (6th seed), competing for a spot in the NBA Finals.

The Thunder seeks to return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012, having swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round and narrowly beating the Denver Nuggets in a seven-game series. Conversely, the Timberwolves aim for their inaugural Finals appearance, having dispatched the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors in prior rounds.

Game Highlights

Game 1 Result: Thunder 114, Timberwolves 88

In an impressive comeback, the Thunder outscored the Timberwolves 70-40 in the second half after initially trailing by nine points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a leading MVP candidate, scored 31 points, overcoming a shaky first half where he managed only 11 points.

Contrarily, the Timberwolves struggled offensively, particularly in the second half, shooting only 35% overall and a dismal 21.7% from three-point range. They also faced challenges with ball security, recording 19 turnovers against a formidable Thunder defense.

What’s Next? The Timberwolves need to enhance their offensive game for Game 2, particularly seeking more production from their bench, which struggled with a shooting percentage under 25%. As for the Thunder, sustaining their momentum for a full game will be crucial especially with the Timberwolves expected to improve in their offensive execution.