The 2025 NBA Playoffs are officially underway and today we’re here to talk about Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals between the Timberwolves and Thunder.
For additional information on picks, props, money lines and more on today’s slate, take a look at our NBA Picks Page or our NBA Odds Page.
Timberwolves vs. Thunder | Game 4 Recap
Result: Thunder (128) – Timberwolves (126)
Both the Eastern Conference Finals and the Western Conference Finals sit with teams on the brink of elimination. In Game 4 we saw both teams trade blows, back and forth the Timberwolves battled the Thunder; neither team ever leading by. more than 11 points.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 40 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists; his running mates Jaylen Williams and Chet Holmgren each chipping in with 34 and 21 points, respectively. The Timberwolves on the other hand, didn’t get much from their two stars.
Anthony Edwards finished the game with just 13 shot attempts, recording just two in the 1st half. Julius Randle was an abysmal 1/7 from the field, scoring just 5 points to go along with 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
Minnesota had 3 players score 20 or more points in Game 4, two of those players did it off the bench. The trio of Jaden McDaniels, Donte Divincenzo and Nickeil Alexander-Walker combined to score 66 of the Timberwolves 126 points, with Minnesota’s bench outscoring the Thunder bench 64-27.
Despite all of this, the Timberwolves lost. Anthony Edwards simply needs to be better.
Spin the Block
Shai and his crew did exactly what they always do, respond after a loss. The newly crowned MVP recorded 40 points in the win, but did take 30 shot attempts to do it. The bigger game was had by Jaylen Williams, in my opinion.
The Thunder guard finished with an efficient 34 points on 54% from the field and hit 6 3s in the process. He’s become the Thunder’s most dependable 3-point shooter and after missing almost 70% of their 3s in Game 3, Oklahoma City responded.
The team shot 37 3-point attempts with 32 of those attempts being open-wide open shots. The Thunder shot 43% from beyond the arc and showed that if you’re going to leave them open, they’re going to make you pay.
Timberwolves vs. Thunder | Game 5
Matchup Information
- Location: Paycom Center; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Date: Wednesday, May 28th, 2025
- Tipoff: 8:30 PM EST
(6) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (1) Oklahoma City Thunder | Regular Season Matchups
- Timberwolves (131) @ Thunder (128) – 2/24/25
- Thunder (130) @ Timberwolves – (123) – 2/23/25
- Thunder (101) @ Timberwolves (116) – 2/13/25
- Timberwolves (105) @ Thunder (113) – 12/31/24
Betting Odds
Odds via BetOnline, an industry leader in the sports betting world.
Our Best Bets in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals
Chet Holmgren o1.5 3s (+116 via BetOnline)
Like I said above, the Timberwolves gave up a ton of wide open 3s in both Game 3 and Game 4. Making Oklahoma City take more 3s than they’d like is something we’ve seen this same Thunder team to do others all year. The Thunder rank bottom-5 in wide-open 3-point attempts allowed and teams have just struggled to hit their shots against the Thunder.
That very strategy was used against the Thunder in Game 3, they shot more 3s than normal, shot terribly and ended up losing the game by 41-points. The Thunder aren’t a team you can count on to continue to miss open shots.
In Game 4 we saw that completely flip. The Thunder shot 43% from the beyond the arc and it was lead by Jalen Williams. Williams shot 6/9 from beyond the arc and looked great from the jump, and even though I love him again tonight; we’re swerving and taking Chet Holmgren.
Holmgren shot 2/4 from beyond the arc in Game 4 and 3 of his 4 attempts were wide-open shots. Tonight against this same Timberwolves team, at home with the chance to go to the NBA Finals; look for Chet’s swagger to come pouring out tonight.
Jaden McDaniels o20.5 PRA (-110 via BetOnline)
This has become an auto-bet. Jaden McDaniels is third in minutes, behind only Julius Randle and Anthony Edwards and he’s been the best matchup for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
I’ve said McDaniels should play a ton of minutes in this series, but between both foul trouble and blowouts; it’s been a little tough. He’s played 37, 40, and 43 minutes in his last 3 matchups with Oklahoma City prior to the postseason; he played 35 minutes in Game 2 and 31 minutes in Game 4. He’s averaging 36 MPG so far in the postseason and tonight with their back against the wall; it should be more of the same.
McDaniels is the Timberwolves best defensive option for Shai and I’m going right back to him in Game 5.
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