The Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves, who clashed in last season’s Western Conference Finals, are set to face off again on Thursday. The Thunder, holding a strong 38-10 record, recently secured a 104-95 win over New Orleans, while the Timberwolves have won two straight games, including a 118-105 victory against Dallas. Oklahoma City will be without guard Jaylen Williams due to a hamstring injury, and Minnesota will miss Mike Conley with a back issue; Rudy Gobert’s ankle status is uncertain.
The game tips off at 9:30 pm ET at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Both teams have shown mixed regular-season performances lately, each going 4-4 in their last eight games, with the Timberwolves taking the most recent meeting. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Thunder are favored by 6.5 points, with the total points line set at 228.5. Before placing bets, fans are encouraged to check out the NBA predictions and insights from the SportsLine Projection Model.
New users can take advantage of promotions like the DraftKings promo code, which offers $300 in bonus bets if a $5+ wager wins. The SportsLine model simulates every NBA matchup 10,000 times and has consistently generated significant returns over eight seasons, boasting a 37-16 record on top-rated NBA spread picks since last season. It has also run 10,000 simulations for this particular Thunder vs. Timberwolves game, providing expert picks and betting advice available on SportsLine.
Here are the key betting lines for the game:
- Spread: Oklahoma City -6.5 (DraftKings)
- Over/Under: 228.5 points
- Money line: Thunder -229, Timberwolves +188
- Streaming: Available on Prime Video
New users can also explore bet365’s bonus code offering $200 in bonus bets after placing a $5 wager.
After crunching the numbers from 10,000 simulated contests, the SportsLine model favors the total going over 228.5 points. Minnesota’s offense, which ranks among the league’s best, has hit the over in three of its last four games. Meanwhile, the Thunder lead the NBA in scoring, field goal percentage, two-point shooting, and free-throw precision. Though Oklahoma City will miss defensive stalwart Alex Caruso and Jaylen Williams, and likely won’t have Kason Wallace—who is second in steals per game—the model expects a slightly higher-than-average points allowed by the Thunder. The over thus has a 51.8% chance of hitting.
The model’s picks against the spread also surpass a 50% win rate, making its insight valuable to bettors. To find out the specific side to back in the spread for this exciting rematch, visit SportsLine for expert NBA picks and betting guidance.
Fan Take: This upcoming matchup is a thrilling chance to revisit one of last season’s most intense playoff series, highlighting two of the Western Conference’s elite teams. The game’s high stakes and offensive firepower could set the tone for the rest of the season, making it a must-watch for basketball fans keen to see rising stars and strategic battles in action.
