The 2025 NBA Conference Finals are underway, featuring the top four remaining teams competing for a place in the NBA Finals. The Western Conference series began with the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, fresh off a demanding seven-game victory against the Denver Nuggets. In Game 1, the Thunder hosted and defeated the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, led by Anthony Edwards, thanks to a dominant 31-point performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference finals are set to tip off between the third-seeded New York Knicks and the fourth-seeded Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden. This highly anticipated matchup features a star-studded point guard battle between Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson. Both the Knicks and Pacers are aiming to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 and 2000, respectively.
As these elite teams clash, this analysis provides key takeaways from the initial matchups and highlights what to watch for in these critical conference showdowns, focusing on the Western Conference series that has already begun.
Western Conference Finals
vs
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder lead (6) Minnesota Timberwolves 1-0
Game 1 Result: Thunder 114, Timberwolves 88
Oklahoma City`s defense proved crucial in keeping the game close during the first half, giving their offense time to find its stride. Despite their star players, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, struggling initially, shooting a combined 4-of-21, the Thunder were down by only four at halftime. In the third quarter, the duo took over, scoring 21 points together and outscoring the Timberwolves by themselves, which helped the Thunder establish a double-digit lead. Chet Holmgren contributed significantly in the fourth quarter, scoring nine of his 15 points to maintain a comfortable lead. The Thunder`s top-ranked defense was consistently disruptive, holding Minnesota to just 34.9% field goal shooting and forcing 19 turnovers, which Oklahoma City capitalized on for 31 points.
Minnesota might have felt confident heading into Game 1 if they knew they`d control the first half and limit Shai Gilgeous-Alexander`s efficiency. However, despite their defensive efforts, their offense struggled significantly. The team managed only 60 points on 20-of-70 shooting (28.6%), excluding the points from one key player. After leading 48-44 at halftime and holding a 60-56 lead midway through the third quarter, the Timberwolves were overwhelmed by a 17-2 Thunder run that established a decisive lead by the fourth. A major issue was the lack of production from the bench, with key reserves like Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker collectively shooting a poor 7-of-36 from the field (5-of-28 from three). Adding to their woes, their star Anthony Edwards tweaked his left ankle in the first half and finished with just 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting. The Timberwolves face a significant challenge in Game 2 to avoid a tough 0-2 hole before returning home.
Game 2 between the Timberwolves and Thunder is scheduled for Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
What to Watch Next
A key area for Minnesota to address is their scoring in the paint. In Game 1, they scored only 20 points in the paint, one of the lowest totals recorded by any team in this postseason. This is a significant drop from their playoff average of 51.6 paint points.
Oklahoma City effectively prevented interior scoring despite utilizing smaller lineups for significant stretches. Coach Mark Daigneault didn`t rely heavily on a traditional large frontcourt pairing. Instead, the Thunder compensated for lack of size with intense, swarming defense that successfully packed the paint. Oklahoma City`s strategy mirrored approaches seen in previous rounds: daring the opponent to win by making outside shots. Minnesota started Game 1 well from three (5-of-11), but cooled off drastically afterward (10-of-40).
It seems counterintuitive, but for Minnesota to improve their interior scoring, they may need to improve their three-point shooting accuracy. If they can consistently hit outside shots, it could force the Thunder`s defense to spread out, opening up driving lanes and paint opportunities. The Timberwolves shot 35% from three in the playoffs leading up to this series, a slight dip from their 38% regular-season mark (4th in the league). The challenge for Minnesota will be hitting enough threes to disrupt OKC`s defensive scheme and create scoring chances inside.
