By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In a quick turnaround to the Western Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 114-88, in Paycom Center.
Opening a best-of-seven series for a ticket to the NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV, the hosts were coming off limited rest. Still, they dominated the second half on Tuesday to get separation and secure a 1-0 lead.
“From the start, we were locked in. We played great team defense the whole game,” noted Isaiah Hartenstein in a postgame press conference following Game 1, “When the offense kind of caught up to us, that’s when we started taking it to the next level.”
“We were really just watching film. We really did not get on the court at all. It was taking care of our bodies, making sure we are right,” added the 27-year-old German big, describing the only day since Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets on NBA Sundays.
Starting for the team guided by Mark Daigneault and lasting nearly 20 minutes, Hartenstein put in 12 points with 6/8 two-pointers. He added five rebounds and one steal. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paved the way with 31 points, including 20 in the second half.
With the Thunder in a commanding position, Belgian Ajay Mitchell and French Ousmane Dieng played two minutes, with the former grabbing one rebound. Serbian Nikola Topic (left knee surgery) remained sidelined.
On the losing end, French Rudy Gobert was held to two points, three rebounds, one block, one steal, and one assist in 21 minutes. Bosnian Luka Garza logged two fruitless minutes.
2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google
Conference Quarterfinals (best of seven)
East
Cleveland Cavaliers – Miami Heat 4-0 (121-100, 121-112, 124-87, 138-83)
Boston Celtics – Orlando Magic 4-1 (103-86, 109-100, 93-95, 107-98, 120-89)
New York Knicks – Detroit Pistons 4-2 (123-112, 94-100, 118-116, 94-93, 103-106, 116-113)
Indiana Pacers – Milwaukee Bucks 4-1 (117-98, 123-115, 101-117, 129-103, 119-118)
West
Oklahoma City Thunder – Memphis Grizzlies 4-0 (131-80, 118-99, 114-108, 117-115)
Houston Rockets – Golden State Warriors 3-4 (85-95, 109-94, 93-104, 106-109, 131-116, 115-107, 89-103)
Los Angeles Lakers – Minnesota Timberwolves 1-4 (95-117, 94-85, 104-116, 113-116, 96-103)
Denver Nuggets – Los Angeles Clippers 4-3 (112-110, 102-105, 83-117, 101-99, 131-115, 105-111, 120-101)
Conference Semifinals (best of seven)
East
Cleveland Cavaliers – Indiana Pacers 1-4 (112-121, 119-120, 126-104, 109-129, 105-114)
Boston Celtics – New York Knicks 2-4 (105-108, 90-91, 115-93, 113-121, 127-102, 81-119)
West
Oklahoma City Thunder – Denver Nuggets 4-3 (119-121, 149-106, 104-113, 92-87, 112-105, 107-119, 125-93)
Minnesota Timberwolves – Golden State Warriors 4-1 (88-99, 117-93, 102-97, 117-110, 121-110)
Conference Finals (best of seven)
East
New York Knicks – Indiana Pacers
West
Oklahoma City Thunder – Minnesota Timberwolves 1-0 (114-88)
NBA Finals (best of seven)
Eastern Conference and Western Conference champions