The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves meet on the PayCom Heart for Sport 1 of the Western Convention Finals on Tuesday.
Thunder vs Timberwolves Sport 1 Preview
Two of the NBA’s greatest younger skills in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards put together to go head-to-head in what must be a sequence for the ages.
The Thunder enter as heavy favorites after making straightforward work of the Memphis Grizzlies within the first spherical earlier than seeing off the Denver Nuggets in seven whereas the Timberwolves dispatched of each the Lakers and Warriors in 5.
There was nothing to separate the pair of their common season match-ups, sharing the spoils at 2-2 by means of the marketing campaign however the No 1 seed Thunder blew the convention aside with 68 wins vs the No 6 seed Timberwolves with 49.
Oklahoma Metropolis is bidding to return to the NBA Finals, final seen on that stage in 2012 when led by Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden – and Minnesota can attain the berth for a primary time in franchise historical past.
The Thunder boasted the most important scoring differential within the NBA this season, outscoring groups by 12.9 factors per recreation and there’s little question they possess the superior roster right here.
MVP-in-waiting Gilgeous-Alexander is joined by All-Star stage expertise in Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren alongside elite function gamers in Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso and Lu Dort.
Caruso made historical past within the series-clinching recreation in opposition to the Nuggets, changing into the third participant to be +40 in a Sport 7.
The Timberwolves are not any slouches both although, with a imply double-punch of Edwards and Julius Randle to go along with elite protection from Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert plus Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo and Nickeil Alexander-Walker chipping in.
The Thunder are robust at dwelling, successful eight of their final ten on the PayCom Heart and the Timberwolves are 24-17 on the highway in whole so it’s no shock to see Oklahoma Metropolis closely favored in Sport 1.
WATCH: One of the best of Anthony Edwards within the playoffs to this point
Thunder vs Timberwolves Sport 1 Damage Report
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder Accidents
G Nikola Matter (knee; out)
Minnesota Timberwolves Accidents
No accidents to report
What TV Channel Is Thunder Vs Timberwolves Sport 1 On?
Sport 1 of Thunder vs Timberwolves might be broadcast nationally on ESPN.