Oklahoma City Thunder vs Minnesota Timberwolves Picks and Predictions May 20th 2025

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Minnesota Timberwolves May 20th 2025

At 8:30 ET, the Minnesota Timberwolves travel to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder are favored by 7.5 and the over/under line is set at 215. The Timberwolves are 6th in the Western Conference and 3rd in the Northwest Division. They have won 4 straight games. The Thunder are 1st in the Western Conference and 1st in the Northwest Division. They have a record of 68-14.

This division matchup will be played at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The game can be seen on ESPN.

Your Key To Smarter Decisions Starts With Gambling News.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder
• Where: Oklahoma City at Paycom Center
• Date: Tuesday, May 20th
• Betting Odds OKC -7.5, MIN +246 | OKC -304 O/U 215

The Timberwolves Can Win If…

With a 121-110 victory over the Warriors on Wednesday, the Timberwolves improved to 49-33 this season. Minnesota, playing at home, was favored by 9.5 points and covered the spread. The game’s total points of 231 exceeded the O/U line of 203 by 28 points.

After building a 93-72 lead through three quarters, the Timberwolves held off a late push from the Warriors, who outscored them 38-28 in the 4th quarter.

Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 29 points and 8 rebounds in their win over the Warriors, shooting 72.2% from the field. Anthony Edwards added 22 points and 12 assists, hitting 5 threes at a 55.6% rate.

Rudy Gobert was nearly perfect from the field, shooting 88.9% and contributing 17 points. The Timberwolves shot 62.8% overall, with a 41.9% mark from three, making 13 threes in the game.

Even with a tough 4th quarter, the Timberwolves held the Warriors to 110 points, thanks to strong defense in the first three quarters. They limited Golden State to 23 points in the 1st, 24 in the 2nd, and 25 in the 3rd, while allowing 38 in the final period. Overall, Minnesota held the Warriors to 43% shooting from the field.

The Timberwolves did an excellent job defending the three-point line, as the Warriors shot just 28% from deep, making 11 threes. Minnesota also recorded 11 steals and 4 blocks. However, they sent the Warriors to the line 30 times, where Golden State made 21 free throws.

• Minnesota has played well in their previous 5 road games, going 4-1 straight up. In this stretch, they averaged 104 points per game while allowing 98. The team also performed well vs the spread at 3-2.
• Minnesota has done well both straight up and vs the spread as the underdog, going 2-1 SU and 2-1 ATS in their last three games.
• Over their last three games, the Timberwolves have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.

Bet Smarter, Win More—Let The Best Handicappers Guide You!

The Thunder Can Win If…

The Thunder improved to 68-14 this season with a dominant 125-93 win over the Nuggets on Sunday. Playing at home, they covered the -8.5 spread, and the game’s 218 points went over the 214.5 total.

After trailing 26-21 at the end of the 1st quarter, OKC went on a 13-0 run, turning a 26-19 deficit into a 32-26 lead. They then outscored Denver 39-20 in the 2nd quarter and 37-26 in the 3rd, entering the 4th with a 97-72 lead and finishing the game by outscoring the Nuggets 28-21 in the final period.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to a win over the Nuggets, scoring 35 points on 63.2% shooting, including 3 made threes at a 75% clip. Jalen Williams contributed 24 points, with 17 coming in the 2nd quarter, and Chet Holmgren added 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Oklahoma City shot 49% from the field, but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 30.8% of their threes, making 12 in total. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 12 points in the 4th quarter, while Williams added 5 in the final period.

The Thunder put on a defensive clinic against the Nuggets, holding them to just 93 points on Sunday. Oklahoma City gave up 26 points in both the 1st and 3rd quarters but tightened up in the 2nd and 4th, allowing just 20 and 21 points, respectively.

Overall, the Thunder limited the Nuggets to 39% shooting from the field and just 22% from beyond the arc, where Denver hit only 10 threes. Oklahoma City also recorded 16 steals and 3 blocks in the win.

• In their last three games at home, the Thunder have a straight up record of 1-2 while going 0-3 vs. the spread. The team averaged 101 points per game in this stretch.
• Going back to their previous ten games as the favorite, Oklahoma City has an ATS mark of 3-7 while going 7-3 straight up.
• In their last five games, the Thunder have an over/under record of 3-2 and are 3-2 vs. the spread.

The Lean

We’re putting our money on the Thunder to win, and have the projected score sitting at 150-129. We also like them to cover the spread, so our recommendation is to bet on the Thunder at -7.5.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 215 and our model has the Timberwolves and Thunder finishing with a combined 279 points. Our pick is to take the over.

Tired Of Guessing On Your NBA Bets?

Make smarter plays with expert analysis and real-time data.

Join Now!

On Short Rest, Host Thunder Out to Grab Game 1 vs. Fresh Wolves

After back-to-back series where rest worked in their favor, the Oklahoma City Thunder now face a quick turnaround as they prepare to open the Western Conference finals against the well-rested Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night in Oklahoma City.

Thunder Shifts From Recovery Mode to Rally Mode

Oklahoma City is just two days removed from a dominant 125-93 Game 7 victory over the defending champion Denver Nuggets. The Thunder had the luxury of a week-long break ahead of their first-round matchup and nine days off before round two. This time, they enter Game 1 with barely time to catch their breath.

Meanwhile, Minnesota closed out its series against the Golden State Warriors in five games and has enjoyed a six-day break heading into Tuesday’s opener.

Defense and Youth Define This Matchup

This series features the NBA’s two top-ranked defenses in the postseason. Oklahoma City holds the edge with a 101.6 defensive rating, with Minnesota close behind at 106.8.

The Thunder and Wolves also boast two of the brightest young stars in the league. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, averaging 29.0 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.9 rebounds in these playoffs, will go head-to-head with Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, who is posting 26.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game.

“It’ll be very fun. He’s literally like my second brother,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of playing against cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker. “We’ve gone through every situation together. But I am trying to take his head off for sure.”

Alexander-Walker, who helped limit Gilgeous-Alexander to a 5-of-19 shooting night in a 2023 play-in game, returned the admiration:

“I have not seen discipline like his,” Alexander-Walker said. “That’s why he’s been so consistent.”

Familiar Foes With a Lot on the Line

The teams split their four-game regular season series, including the two contests played in Oklahoma City. However, key players like Rudy Gobert and Chet Holmgren were absent from those meetings, making direct comparisons difficult.

Want Proven Handicappers? The Leaderboard Says It All.

“Apples to apples, I don’t know if those games are the perfect framework through which to look at the series,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault admitted. “It’ll be different.”

The Timberwolves are looking to break through to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. The Thunder, in their first conference finals since 2016, are hoping for a return to the grand stage for the first time since 2012.

Western Conference Finals Betting Insights

With the Thunder rolling off an emotional Game 7 win and the Wolves fully rested, this opener presents a perfect test of momentum vs. recovery. For those eyeing NBA action, it’s a smart time to check the latest NBA picks and predictions to track trends for total points, series odds, and Game 1 moneyline edges.