The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder had loads of break day forward of their first two playoff sequence.
Now, within the Western Convention finals towards the Minnesota Timberwolves, will probably be the Thunder who come into the sequence on quick relaxation whereas their opponent has far more time to get better.
The sequence begins Tuesday in Oklahoma Metropolis.
The Thunder are coming off a 125-93 win over the visiting Denver Nuggets on Sunday in Recreation 7 of their second-round sequence.
The Timberwolves have not performed in six days after closing out the Golden State Warriors in 5 video games.
Oklahoma Metropolis had one week between video games earlier than its first-round sequence towards Memphis after which 9 days between video games earlier than the sequence towards the Nuggets.
Within the first spherical, the Thunder opened with a 51-point win over the Grizzlies, however dropped Recreation 1 to Denver after fading late.
Minnesota had a six-day layoff earlier than every of its first two sequence, successful Recreation 1 vs. the Los Angeles Lakers and dropping Recreation 1 to Golden State. The Timberwolves received every sequence in 5 video games.
The Timberwolves are within the convention finals for the second consecutive season and the third time of their historical past. Minnesota has by no means superior to the NBA Finals.
Oklahoma Metropolis is within the Western Convention finals for the primary time since 2016 and in search of its first finals look since 2012.
The sequence options two of the NBA’s high defenses, each throughout the common season and within the playoffs.
The Thunder boast a 101.6 defensive ranking — factors allowed per 100 possessions — in 11 playoff video games, greatest this postseason. Minnesota’s 106.8 defensive ranking is second.
It additionally options two of the league’s high younger stars in Oklahoma Metropolis’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards.
Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 29.0 factors, 6.4 assists and 5.9 rebounds this postseason whereas Edwards is averaging 26.5 factors, 8.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the front-runner for Most Useful Participant honors, is wanting ahead to the matchup towards cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker of Minnesota.
The 2 gamers have been born lower than two months aside in Toronto and each attended Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tenn.
“It will be very enjoyable,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “It is arduous to even clarify. If you know the way shut we’re, he is actually like my second brother. He is been by each stage of life with me — selecting up a basketball to going to prep faculty to creating the NBA, we have gone by each scenario collectively. For each of us to be the place we’re is particular, to compete towards one another much more particular.
“However I’m making an attempt to take his head off for certain.”
In a 2023 play-in recreation, Alexander-Walker helped maintain his cousin to a 5-of-19 taking pictures night time.
Alexander-Walker mentioned Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistency has lifted him to a unique echelon.
“That comes from diligence, arduous work, seeing it first hand and self-discipline that in truth I have never seen in anyone else,” Alexander-Walker mentioned. “I’ve not seen self-discipline like his. So I believe that is the primary purpose why folks suppose he is made a soar when actually he is simply been capable of be constantly that, as a result of he is been so disciplined in his method.”
The groups break up their four-game season sequence and break up their two video games in Oklahoma Metropolis.
Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert performed in simply a type of video games — a New Yr’s Eve loss — whereas Chet Holmgren appeared in two of the video games for the Thunder.
“Apples to apples, I do not know if these video games are the proper framework by which to have a look at the sequence,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned. “It will be completely different.”
–Discipline Stage Media
