NBA convention finals takeaways: SGA leads Thunder to Game 1 win over Wolves

The 2025 NBA convention finals have tipped off, with 4 groups combating for a place within the Finals.

The No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder, after a difficult seven-game sequence towards the Denver Nuggets, kicked off the Western Conference finals Tuesday evening. They defeated Anthony Edwards and the visiting No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 at the back of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s 31 issues.

In the East, the No. 3 seed New York Knicks will take at the No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden with two superstars in Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson going head-to-head in a extremely expected matchup. The Knicks and Pacers will glance to make their first Finals look since 1999 and 2000, respectively.

As those elite groups face off, our NBA insiders damage down their greatest takeaways from each and every matchup and what to look ahead to in each convention showdowns.

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Western Conference

Game 1: Thunder 114, Timberwolves 88

Biggest takeaways for the Thunder: Oklahoma City’s protection purchased the Thunder a part earlier than their scorers settled right into a rhythm. The Thunder trailed via most effective 4 issues at halftime in spite of All-Star duo Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams combining to shoot most effective 4-of-21 from the ground. Then, that tandem seized regulate, outscoring the Timberwolves via themselves within the 3rd quarter and mixing to attain 21 to permit Oklahoma City to take a double-digit lead. Chet Holmgren scored 9 of his 15 issues in a flurry early within the fourth quarter to stay Minnesota at a comfy distance. The Thunder protection, the league’s top-ranked unit, remained relentless all over the sport. Oklahoma City held Minnesota to 34.9% taking pictures from the ground and compelled 19 turnovers that the Thunder transformed into 31 issues. — Tim MacMahon

Biggest takeaways for the Timberwolves: If you instructed the Timberwolves that they might regulate the primary part and feature Gilgeous-Alexander pass over just about two times as many photographs (17) as he made (10) earlier than Tuesday, they might have preferred their possibilities in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. There used to be one downside: For how efficient their protection used to be, their offense used to be similarly inept. If you are taking away Julius Randle’s 28 issues on 9-for-13 taking pictures, Minnesota mustered simply 60 issues on 20-for-70 taking pictures (28.6%).

After development a 48-44 lead throughout the first two quarters, it used to be rarely a recreation after halftime. The Wolves led 60-56 with 7:22 to head within the 3rd, and the Thunder spoke back with a 17-2 run to open up a double-digit cushion heading into the fourth. Minnesota’s bench beef up used to be in particular missing, with Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo and Nickeil Alexander-Walker combining to shoot simply 7-for-36 (5-for-28 from 3). Minnesota’s 23-year-old celebrity Anthony Edwards tweaked his left ankle within the first part and completed with 18 issues on 5-for-13 taking pictures. The Wolves have a lot paintings to do for Game 2, or they’re going to be gazing a 0-2 deficit heading again house for Game 3. — Dave McMenamin

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Anthony Edwards a long way from perfect as Timberwolves lose Game 1

From a technical foul to tense an ankle damage, Anthony Edwards had a combined efficiency in Game 1 vs. the Thunder.

Game 2: Timberwolves at Thunder (Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

What to observe: Whether Minnesota can give you the chance to attain within the paint. The Timberwolves controlled simply 20 paint issues, tying the fewest via any group all the way through this 12 months’s playoffs. Minnesota used to be averaging 51.6 issues within the paint and used to be coming off 72 whilst ultimate out the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 closing Wednesday — a playoff prime for any group.

Remarkably, Oklahoma City pulled that off whilst downsizing. Thunder trainer Mark Daigneault performed his double-big frontcourt of starters Isaiah Hartenstein and Holmgren fewer than 8 mins in combination — a long way not up to the 14.2 they have got averaged within the playoffs, in keeping with NBA Advanced Stats. And after the usage of Jaylin Williams to protect Nikola Jokic within the convention semifinals, Daigneault went to the smaller Kenrich Williams as a backup middle.

What Oklahoma City lacked in measurement, the Thunder greater than made up for with a swarming protection and packing the paint. Oklahoma City dared the Timberwolves to make 3s, similar to the Nuggets did the Thunder within the closing spherical. After Minnesota shot 5-of-11 from downtown within the opening quarter, the Timberwolves went 10-for-40 (25%) the remainder of the best way.

Paradoxically, then, Minnesota’s perfect hope of scoring within may well be hitting extra photographs from out of doors. The Timberwolves will for sure achieve this. Minnesota has made 35% on 3s within the playoffs after rating fourth within the league at 38% all the way through the common season. We’ll see how correct the Timberwolves want to be to drag the Thunder protection out of the paint. — Kevin Pelton