2025 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #6 Minnesota Timberwolves (OKC leads 1-0)

[Backcountry]

Minny looked overmatched, but a reminder that this is a best of seven. That's why they play 'em.

[Wingy]

i swear to god i've never seen a sophomore bench defensive minded guard have such a strong impact as cason wallace.

he was top +-, once again. this dude is bringing games to the thunder's reach all playoffs WTF he's getting PAID

Along with speed to attack in the open court and a shot that looks like it can continue to develop (already shot great 3% as a rookie, and respectable this year).

Kid is a stud….OKC would be stupid to not lock him up long term as soon as they can.

[Ice Man]

We're starting to understand that there was another reason besides age why Jimmy Butler's performance was subdued in the OKC-Dubs series. There's not a player in the league who can consistently beat the Thunder defense, if the Thunder focuses its attention on him. What's more, to the extent that such a person exists, OKC already faced him, that being Jokic.

[Wingy]

We're starting to understand that there was another reason besides age why Jimmy Butler's performance was subdued in the OKC-Dubs series. There's not a player in the league who can consistently beat the Thunder defense, if the Thunder focuses its attention on him. What's more, to the extent that such a person exists, OKC already faced him, that being Jokic.

Did you mean Jamal Murray?

As a fellow Bulls fan, I know it still hurts that Jimmy is gone. The scars last forever.

[hardenASG13]

I'm a big Edwards guy, but isn't his free throw a violation basically every time stepping over the line early? First noticed it at the olympics.

I think you can burn the line after release provided you don't chase a miss before the ball hits the rim. Nobody really cares

Can't cross until it hits the rim. I'd think his opponents would care.

[Backcountry]

We're starting to understand that there was another reason besides age why Jimmy Butler's performance was subdued in the OKC-Dubs series. There's not a player in the league who can consistently beat the Thunder defense, if the Thunder focuses its attention on him. What's more, to the extent that such a person exists, OKC already faced him, that being Jokic.

Yeah, OKC was so dominant in that series, it's like GSW wasn't even in it!

[1bigfan13]

that's a fun start

wolves are a 35% 3pt shooting team and they decided to spray 51 3's to see if any stuck to the wall

okc, otoh, stuck with the 2 and minnie allowed 50%

IMO, getting off to such a hot start from 3 point range is what led to this. It felt like they kept chasing that high from the hot start.

DiVincenzo took a ton of bad threes but I thought most of Naz Reid's were good looks that he normally makes.

[Ice Man]

Did you mean Jamal Murray?

As a fellow Bulls fan, I know it still hurts that Jimmy is gone. The scars last forever.

Yes, I did. But I wrote "Jimmy Butler" because like you, Jimmy is still living in my head. The pain of that trade will never leave me.

[Bergmaniac]

Thunder just have too much depth and too many excellent defenders to be beaten by being outhustled and outdefended. That's why I thought they were strong favourites in this one and this game confirmed it. What happens in this one happened a lot in the regular season - a close first half with the Thunder doing poorly on offense, then they go all out in the third, force some turnovers, get a lot of defensive stops by going all out on every play, get their offense going and suddenly they have a 10-15 points lead.

The Wolves would need a better bench performance to make this a series, their 3 main bench players shot poorly and took way too many 3s.

[Upperclass]

Haven’t seen the nba manufacture star like this in a long time.

LeBrons retirement has them turning over stones

[WestbrookGOATed]

I still can't believe Minny took 50 3's lol

[Deathray]

Ant needs to take a page from Shai's book and get to the line more. The best athlete on the floor should be driving to the basket and forcing the refs to make calls.

[Gordon]

Minnesota needs to take care of the ball if they are to have a chance, Thunder really exposes poor ballhandlers like Jaden and Randle with thier pressure. Guards need to be on the ball a lot more, especially Edwards.

[Cubbies2120]

I'm a big Edwards guy, but isn't his free throw a violation basically every time stepping over the line early? First noticed it at the olympics.

I think you can burn the line after release provided you don't chase a miss before the ball hits the rim. Nobody really cares

Can't cross until it hits the rim. I'd think his opponents would care.

Given that the players in rebounding position sometimes stand with their toes in the paint before the free throws are even shot, I think the NBA doesn't care about lane violations unless they're egregious (like...multiple rebounders in paint before shot leaves hand).

[jbk1234]

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/the-real-problem-with-shai-gilgeous-alexanders-foul-baiting-is-that-it-works/

[HMFFL]

Points In The Paint:
Minnesota 20
OKC 54

Nice job Minnesota.
The series will be decided by the frontcourt. Coach needs to wakeup game 2.

Fast Break Points
Minnesota 0
OKC 12

[MoneyTalks41890]

Take away all of Shai’s free throws and OKC only wins by 15.

Not in the top 3 reasons Minny lost that game.

[MoneyTalks41890]

This is aura

Read on Twitter

[HMFFL]

Minnesota took 30 more threes than the Thunder tonight, the third-largest differential in NBA playoff history.

 

– via Bluesky

[thinktank]

that's a fun start

wolves are a 35% 3pt shooting team and they decided to spray 51 3's to see if any stuck to the wall

okc, otoh, stuck with the 2 and minnie allowed 50%

IMO, getting off to such a hot start from 3 point range is what led to this. It felt like they kept chasing that high from the hot start.

DiVincenzo took a ton of bad threes but I thought most of Naz Reid's were good looks that he normally makes.

DDV is the only guy I’ve seen where if he misses he moves FARTHER AWAY.

Move in, dude!