Thunder Move On to NBA Finals

Zak Drapeau
May 29
3 min read

by Zak Drapeau 5/29/2025 FansOnlySportz

Last night, the Oklahoma City Thunder completed their 4-1 series win over the Minnesota Timberwolves and punched their ticket to their franchise's first NBA Finals appearance since 2012. The final game was a blowout from the first quarter as the Thunder would hold a 33-point lead going into halftime and end up winning by a score of 124-94.

As he did in 4 of the 5 games this series, new MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the top scorer for both sides this time with 34 points. Shai would actually lead the series in Points, Assists and Free Throws as well. After an outstanding series, SGA's final game averages would be 31.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 46/32/86.

The Thunder are far from a one man team though, with the youngest core of future stars in the league. Players like Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren were dynamic in this series and give SGA all the backup he could ask for. J-Will would average 22, 6.6 and 4.4 in the series on 49/46/83 shooting, (best shooting splits in the series) and Holmgren would average 19 points, 6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.

The team as a whole would average 48.8/37.6/61.3 in the series with better-than-average marks in FG% and 3P%. The team would also set a high mark in steals for this series averaging 11 per game compared to the 7.7-per-game team average this postseason.

Finals Predictions

So the Thunder dismantle the Timberwolves in 5 games and do so behind their superstar SGA and by also having great teamwork in their rotation. A combination that will be hard to beat when they get to the Finals starting on June 5th.

The Thunder's "Big-3" of SGA, Holmgren and Williams will have an advantage against either opponent in the Finals; either the Pacers or Knicks don't have the star power to match the Thunder. The likely opponent will be the Pacers who currently hold a 3-1 lead in their series. The Pacers "Big-2" of Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam have been playing outstandingly this postseason however and their team as a whole have been rolling.

If the Finals is indeed between the Thunder and Pacers you can make the argument that the best two teams in the league in terms of team chemistry over the last month will be competing.

The Thunder will have the statistical advantage leading into the series and will likely have the better odds as well but that won't be new for the Pacers. Underdogs in all three of their series so far, the Pacers have defied all odds and have a 11-3 record so far this postseason against the Bucks, Cavaliers and now Knicks.

To predict how the series will go is almost futile at this point due to the absolute unpredictability this postseason. We've seen likely the most 4th Quarter comebacks of any single postseason this year and we've seen multiple lower-seeded teams advance like the 4-seeded Pacers.

This postseason has been electric so far and with the Finals getting ready to be underway soon, the fun is just getting started.