Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 2/23/25 – The Oklahoma City Thunder (45-10) face off against the Minnesota Timberwolves (31-26), adding yet another highlight to an already packed schedule in the Western conference. The Thunder continue to assert their dominance, winning 8 of their last 9 games (8-1 SU). Minnesota has struggled with consistency, barring their recent victory against Oklahoma City a little over a week ago. With so much at stake, so expect an action packed game on ESPN.
| When: | Sunday, February 23, 2025, at 9:30 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Target Center, Minneapolis, MN |
| TV: | ESPN |
| Stream: | NBA League Pass |
Back to work against the Jazz 🎷
3 Things with @royceyoung🎙️ pic.twitter.com/TrpkM9jd5Z
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) February 22, 2025
The Thunder enter as clear favorites, laying 9.5 points on the spread, a testament to their elite form. However, Minnesota proved they can keep up with OKC by winning their last matchup outright. The total is set at 227.5, reflecting the offensive firepower of both teams, though key betting trends suggest a defensive battle when these two meet in Minnesota.
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder | -9.5 (-105) | Over 227.5 (-115) | -400 |  |
| Timberwolves | +9.5 (-115) | Under 227.5 (-105) | +300 | |
| ||||
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG) vs. Anthony Edwards (SG)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been exceptional this season. With Oklahoma City averaging 32.2 points per game on 47.5% shooting, he remains one of the key contributors to the offense. On the other hand, SGA’s ability to dictate tempo, score, and pass to teammates (6.1 APG) makes him a tough player for defenses to guard. Lastly, his contribution to his team’s defense (1.9 SPG,1.0 BPG) shows he thinks about the game from both sides of the court. While SGA’s efficiency is impressive, there is still a high turnover issue (2.5 per game). When playing versus Minnesota’s defense, he will need to be sharp to limit poor decision making.
When it comes to Minnesota, Anthony Edwards is their biggest threat. With an average of 27.6 points while playing 36.8 minutes a game, he is their most productive player. He is also an impressive scorer and decent passer with 4.5 assists a game. Unfortunately, his high turnover rate (3.5) might complicate things against an opportunistic Thunder defense. During a game when Edwards is able to maneuver around restrictions, he will be able to offer Minnesota a good chance to win.
Oklahoma City Thunder Statistical Dominance
Oklahoma City head into this match full of confidence having won four of their last five, losing to Minnesota recently, which they followed up with a win over Utah that they won handily (130-107). They also crushed New Orleans (137-101), Miami (115-101), And Memphis (125-112) before that. The way they are scoring (118.1 PPG, 47.5% FG) makes them fearsome foe for any team in the league.
Minnesota Timberwolves Upset Potential?
Despite an up-and-down stretch, the Timberwolves have been resilient, with their last five games showing flashes of promise. Their 116-101 win over OKC on Feb. 13 stands out as their best performance, but losses to Houston (115-121), Milwaukee (101-103), and Cleveland (107-128) highlight their inconsistency. Minnesota’s defense (allowing just 111.6 PPG) is capable of slowing teams down, but their offensive efficiency (46% FG, 14.8 threes per game) will need to be at its peak to match OKC’s firepower.
Trends
Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends
Oklahoma City are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games.
The total has gone OVER in 15 of OKC’s last 20 games.
OKC is 8-1 SU in their last 9 games.
The Thunder are 4-11 SU in their last 15 games vs. Minnesota.
OKC is 15-5 SU in their last 20 road games.
Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Trends
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Minnesota’s last 20 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Minnesota’s last 12 games vs. OKC.
Minnesota is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Minnesota’s last 10 home games vs. OKC.
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Minnesota’s last 9 games vs. Western Conference opponents.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Prediction
This sets up to be an exciting clash between a brutally efficient Thunder team, and the Timberwolves team that has seemed to give them issues historically. Leading by SGA, Oklahoma City offensive firepower makes them the clear favorite, but Minnesota’s style of slowing the pace down coupled with great capitalizations on missed defensive assignments keeps them in play.
The spread (-9.5) does feel a bit steep due to the fact that the Timberwolves have recently been performing well against the Oklahoma City team. Perhaps betting on Minnesota to cover could be the sharper play. The total (227.5) is interesting—historically these teams tend to go UNDER when playing in Minnesota, but both have recently shifted towards the siding of OVER. In fact, taking the Thunder on the moneyline (-400) and hedging with the UNDER if the Timberwolves’ defense can remain solid, feels like a much safer option. Sign up today to make your NBA betting prediction!
Score Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder 116, Minnesota Timberwolves..
