Timberwolves vs Thunder Series Betting Preview: WCF Odds & 5 Best Bets
John Canady
Host · Writer
The Minnesota Timberwolves are set for a series showdown against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals for a chance to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals. Whether it’s Minnesota or OKC, each squad will have the opportunity to compete for a chance to win the first championship in franchise history. Heading into this battle, both teams will do whatever it takes to keep their season alive and represent the West.
Regardless of which team you’re rooting for, here’s a look at the best bets that could place you on the winning side of this matchup.
Timberwolves vs Thunder
Odds to Win Series: Thunder -375 | Timberwolves +300
Please be aware that betting odds may change after the publication of this article.
Series Correct Score: Oklahoma City Thunder 4-3 +410
Considering the regular season between these two teams, this series has all the makings of a seven-game series. The two contenders split the season series 2-2, and in three of the four games, each battle came down to the wire. Minnesota started the season inconsistently, but throughout the second half of the season, Chris Finch’s squad found a recipe for success. Without a doubt, the Timberwolves have the talent to compete with the Thunder despite the series odds seemingly being heavily favored for OKC to run away with this series. Nonetheless, I believe that the Thunder’s depth will play a factor in this series and, in the end, will help them advance to the NBA Finals, but not before this series reaches another Game 7 for Oklahoma City.
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Series Most Total Points: Anthony Edwards +170
Entering this series, all eyes were on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to carry the offensive load for the Thunder and score the most total points in this series. Following his MVP-caliber season, averaging 32.7 points, it’s easy to understand why. However, Anthony Edwards made it to this postseason stage last year and vowed that his squad would be back with a vengeance. Now, he has the opportunity to prove that statement to be true, and with his tendency to elevate his game on the biggest stages, I like the odds that Edwards will score the most points in this heavyweight series.
Series Most Total Rebounds: Chet Holmgren +220
Chet Holmgren has been a beast on the boards throughout this postseason, posting multiple double-digit rebounding games. Many expect Rudy Gobert to be the favorite to be the most dominant big man on the glass in this series. Still, based on Holmgren’s impact on the glass the last couple of series, I truly think there’s a chance that the Gonzaga product can continue impacting the game with his ability to grab defensive boards and earn his team second-chance points with offensive rebounds. Holmgren enters this series averaging 9.7 rebounds per game through 11 games in the postseason, and if he keeps these averages up, he has a strong case to finish with the most total rebounds.
Series Most Total Assists: Julius Randle +460
Julius Randle seemingly regressed throughout the start of the regular season since joining the Timberwolves in the offseason. Still, down the stretch of the season and since the playoffs began, the former Kentucky standout has turned things around and now looks to be playing at an All-Star caliber level. The Timberwolves forward is averaging 23.9 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.9 rebounds through the first ten games of the postseason, and his emergence in Minnesota’s frontcourt is one of the biggest reasons they’ve made it to this point. Coming off a series where he averaged 7.4 assists, I like the odds that the versatile big man will continue to have the offense run through him and deliver as both a scorer and a playmaker as he continues to play with next-level confidence.
Number of Games to Reach Overtime: 1+ Games +210
These two teams are more closely matched than many believe. Oklahoma City has a young team, but a deep bench, allowing them to play various lineups that can spell issues for opponents. However, the Timberwolves may be one of the few teams that the Thunder’s lineup changes may not bother. Assuming this series is as close as I anticipate, it won’t be a shock to see one of these games be forced into overtime to decide a winner.
