Thunder vs Timberwolves NBA Game 1 Pick: Which Team Takes The Opener? (May 20)

• The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the conference finals for the first time since 2016, following a 4-3 series win over the Denver Nuggets.
• Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves are in the WCF for the second straight year after dispatching the Golden State Warriors in five games.
• These squads last played on Feb. 24, with the Timberwolves claiming a 131-128 overtime victory.

Tuesday’s NBA slate features the Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Who emerges victorious in our Thunder vs Timberwolves Game 1 pick?

Thunder vs Timberwolves Preview

The Thunder are back in the conference finals for the first time in nine years following a 125-93 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 of the semifinal round.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams were the headline performers for OKC. SGA led the way with 35 points, four rebounds, and three steals, connecting on 12 of his 19 shot attempts.

Jalen Williams finished with 24 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. The home team trailed by 11 points in the first quarter before taking a 60-46 lead into the break.

The Thunder pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Nuggets 65-47. This marked the second time in the series that they’ve won a game by more than 30 points.

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves finished their second straight postseason series in five games, knocking off the Golden State Warriors 121-110. Minnesota’s offense placed all five starters in double figures.

Julius Randle and Anthony Edwards powered the Timberwolves. Randle had a team-high 29 points along with eight rebounds and five assists. Edwards chimed in with 22 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds, including a 5-for-9 effort from beyond the arc.

The Timberwolves held a 62-47 advantage at the break, and they extended their lead to 25 points in the third quarter. Golden State made a late run in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to nine points (99-90) at the 7:11 mark.

However, Edwards responded with a 3-pointer, pushing the lead for the home team back to double digits.

Thunder vs Timberwolves Game 1 Pick: Who Lands The First Punch In The Opener?

Following their dominant Game 7 win over Denver, the Thunder enter this matchup as a seven-point favorite, according to BetOnline. Here are a few betting trends for both sides looking ahead to Game 1.

• The Thunder are 12-3 straight-up (SU) in their last 15 games.
• OKC is 2-6 against the spread in its previous eight outings against Minnesota.
• The Timberwolves are 12-5 in their last 17 contests against the Thunder.
• Minnesota is 15-5 ATS in its previous 20 matchups against Western Conference opponents.

The teams split the four-game regular-season set, each winning on the other’s home floor. OKC improved throughout the series against the Nuggets, and that momentum will carry over into Game 1, albeit by a smaller margin than the predicted spread.