The NBA’s Conference Finals are set, with the Oklahoma City Thunder taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference and the New York Knicks facing the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference.
After a semifinals that saw the likes of Boston, Cleveland, Golden State and Denver go down, what can be expected in these two series? And what are the bets to make?
NBA betting experts Andre Snellings, Eric Moody, Eric Karabell, Jim McCormick and Steve Alexander provide the bets they like most for each series.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Favorite bets for the series
Timberwolves +1.5 games (+140). I go into this series feeling that it is at least a toss-up that could go either way, and at most a clear Timberwolves advantage. So I love being able to get the Timberwolves plus 1.5 games for plus money. The Timberwolves had a slow start to the season, seeming to need time to adjust to the blockbuster trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to New York in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. But adjust they did, and they caught fire down the stretch. Since March 1, including the playoffs, the Timberwolves are 25-6, neck-and-neck with the Thunder (28-6) for the best in the league. The two teams have split the season series 2-2 in each of the last two seasons, further emphasizing how evenly matched they are. For the Timberwolves to be getting both games and plus money makes this a strong value play. — Snellings
Series Total games under 5.5 (+115). Many were surprised when the Mavericks blew right through the Timberwolves last season for a berth in the NBA Finals. Minnesota won one game. OK, so the Thunder didn’t exactly roll over the Nuggets, but this is a different matchup. The Thunder can score and certainly will defend Anthony Edwards well. Throw some money at the Thunder doing what Dallas did last season and making this a quick series win. — Karabell
Exact Series Total games: Thunder up 2-1 after three games (+110). Threading the needle here results in plus odds for an exact prediction of the series after three games. Based on exact series odds, the expectation is a 4-1 series favoring the Thunder. Have you heard that story before? It’s because that was the context for the Denver series, as well. This isn’t a slight to an awesome Oklahoma City team, rather the reality that regular season dominance doesn’t always prove congruent with playoff outcomes. I have no expectation of an upset, but I do expect the first games of this series to include a series of adjustments and new looks. — the Timberwolves will take one of the first three games. — McCormick
Exact Series Total 5 games (+220). Minnesota rolled past a Lakers team virtually without anyone playing defense (other than LeBron James) and a Warriors team that lost Stephen Curry. The Thunder have yet to exert their full powers other than a few random games in these playoffs, but I think it all changes against Minnesota. If you want to hit a home run, I like a sweep at +450, but giving the Wolves at least one game is a safer play. We should know if the idea of this being a good matchup for the Wolves is true halfway through Game 1. — Alexander
OKC Thunder 4-2 (+425). The Thunder’s elite defense, anchored by Luguentz Dort and Alex Caruso, will challenge the Timberwolves’ scorers on every possession. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the best player in the series, and Oklahoma City’s depth — along with its experience from a tough second-round battle with the Denver Nuggets— gives them the edge. Chet Holmgren‘s rim protection and hometown motivation could be the X-factor. Thunder in six. — Moody
Favorite prop bets
Julius Randle most total points in the series (+1800). Randle has scored 29 and 31 points in his last two playoff games, respectively, and has scored at least 24 points in each of his last four. The Thunder will likely try to stop Edwards but might be willing to let Randle shoot as much as he wants. If so, the payoff is very enticing at +1800 — and he’s currently on fire. — Alexander
250 or more total points in any game this series (+300). Rooting for scoring is fun. Winning is more fun, thus why unders can prove savvy so often. This said, it feels like at least one game, because that’s all it takes, will turn into an offensive opus. A game that goes to overtime or just has some wide-open, relentless transition that drives the score to pinball levels is all we need. It’s a three-to-one bet for a reason, but it’s also a fun one. — McCormick
Chet Holmgren most total rebounds in the series (+275). Holmgren dominated the glass against the Nuggets in a dynamic that could be similar to this round: Isaiah Hartenstein battles the opponent’s big center (Rudy Gobert/Nikola Jokic), while Holmgren crashes the boards against the opponent’s shorter power forward (Randle/Aaron Gordon). Holmgren averaged 11.7 RPG over the last six games against the Nuggets, and if he maintains a similar pace against the Timberwolves he’d have a legit shot to win this prop at solid plus-money. — Snellings
Copyright © 2025 ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved.