How would OKC Thunder match up vs Spurs, Timberwolves in West finals?

The Thunder wants one thing out of this Spurs-Timberwolves series: more basketball.

Game 6 will tip off at 8:30 p.m. Friday in Minneapolis. The Wolves, trailing 3-2 in the series, can force a Game 7 with a win.

That’d be just fine for the Thunder. OKC is chilling in the recovery tub, watching as Minnesota and San Antonio bludgeon each other.

As for which team the Thunder would rather face in the Western Conference finals? I think we all have an educated guess.

But let’s break down the two possible matchups by 10 categories, seeing which of the Spurs and Wolves would pose the tougher test.

OKC Thunder stock report: Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain soaring in NBA Playoffs

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder battle for a tip off during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives with the ball against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 and Ajay Mitchell #25 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against Cason Wallace #22 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Head Coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up against the Oklahoma City Thunder prior to Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: A detailed view of Los Angeles Lakers themed T-shirts prior to Game Four against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: LeBron James #23 and Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers warm up against the Oklahoma City Thunder prior to Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder warms up prior to Game Four against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up prior to Game Four against Oklahoma City Thunder in the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

The answer would be Wembanyama even if Edwards was healthy, but it’d be kind of close. But Edwards is not healthy. And it’s not close.

The Ant-Man’s athleticism has been zapped. He’s fresh off a scary hyperextension of his left knee, and he’s dealing with runner’s knee in his right.

Edwards can still take over in spurts, like we’ve seen against the Spurs, but not for a full game. Much less a full series.

I don’t know if Wembanyama can handle the physical toll of a series against OKC, but he’s in a better spot than Edwards right now. And his best is better than Edwards’ best.

Tougher test: Spurs

Offense: Wolves sputtering, Spurs surging

Injuries have of course played a factor, but the Wolves offense has been bad in the playoffs (107.7 points per 100 possessions). For context, that’s a worse offensive rating than the Suns had in Round 1 against the Thunder.

The Wolves’ playoff offense has been worse than the Brooklyn Nets’ 30th-ranked regular-season offense (108.8 points per 100 possessions).

Minnesota had an average offense even in the regular season, ranking 13th. The Spurs ranked third.

San Antonio has had the third-best offense in the playoffs behind the Thunder and Knicks.

Tougher test: Spurs

More: When does OKC Thunder play? Western Conference finals schedule scenarios for NBA Playoffs

Defense: Spurs rank No. 1 in playoffs

San Antonio is allowing 102 points per 100 possessions in the playoffs. OKC’s No. 1 ranked regular-season defense allowed 106.5 points per 100 possessions.

The Spurs’ defense ranked third and the Timberwolves’ eighth in the regular season.

Victor Wembanyama is the best defensive player in the world, but Rudy Gobert remains elite on that end of the floor.

While San Antonio has a better all-around defense, I think Minnesota wing Jaden McDaniels could give SGA more trouble than any Spurs defender.

Tougher test: Spurs

Revenge factor: Thunder-Wolves Part 2?

There’s no revenge to be had for the Spurs.

They dominated the season series with the Thunder 4-1. Now, you can throw away a couple of those games based on who played and who didn’t, but the Spurs beat the Thunder in the two regular-season games that mattered most.

In the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas, and on Christmas Day in OKC. Both of those games had real stakes. The Thunder had a chance to shut the Spurs up on Christmas, but the noise only got louder.

If revenge is a factor, it’ll be on the Thunder’s side.

Conversely, it could motivate Minnesota. The Timberwolves played the Thunder tight in the regular season (2-2), but OKC trounced Minnesota in last year’s Western Conference finals. In the Thunder’s four wins in that five-game series, its average margin of victory was 18.3 points.

Tougher test: Timberwolves

Narrative: Wemby’s rise vs. Wolves’ resolve

Due respect to “Thunder-Wolves, The Rematch,” but I don’t think anyone is clamoring to see a replay of last year’s Western Conference finals.

Thunder vs. Spurs, however, could be epic. The de facto NBA Finals (sorry, Knicks, you guys really are playing great).

Despite it being a matchup between two small markets (that’s the case either way), the league would have no problem selling an OKC-San Antonio series.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the MVP. Victor Wembanyama is the MWP (must-watch player).

Chet Holmgren and Wembanyama, as you might’ve heard, don’t like each other.

The zero-and-zero Thunder resides in a bubble, but a series against the Spurs would bring added layers of distractions.

Tougher test: Spurs

More: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander let OKC Thunder teammates shine, then he closed out Lakers

Starting lineup: Choose your five

In Game 5 against the Spurs, the Wolves started Anthony Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu in the backcourt, Jaden McDaniels on the wing and Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert in the front court.

The Spurs’ starting five: Guards De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, wings Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie and coverer of the court Victor Wembanyama.

Edwards is better than either Fox or Castle. Both Fox and Castle are better than Dosunmu. The McDaniels/Randle duo is better than Vassell/Champagnie. The Spurs’ Frenchman is better than the Timberwolves’.

I’ll give the nod to whichever lineup has Wembanyama.

Tougher test: Spurs

Spurs wing Keldon Johnson was named Sixth Man of the Year — an award Timberwolves center Naz Reid won in 2024 and finished fourth for this season.

Let’s not just compare these two players, but the benches as a whole.

Donte DiVincenzo was a starter for the Wolves, but his devastating Achilles injury was a huge blow to Minnesota’s overall depth. His absence has led to more minutes for Mike Conley and Terrence Shannon Jr. — a 38-year-old and a second-year player.

Ayo Dosunmu started in Games 3 and 4 against the Spurs. Reid comes off the bench, but he gets a starter’s diet of minutes.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch has gone away from Bones Hyland and Jaylen Clark. I could see the Wolves going back to Clark, an excellent defensive guard, in a series against the Thunder.

The Spurs have a stable starting five. Rounding out their 10-man rotation have been Dylan Harper, Keldon Johnson, Luke Kornet, Carter Bryant and Harrison Barnes.

Johnson won Sixth Man of the Year, but he’s not even the best bench player on his own team. That’s the rookie Harper, who’s averaging 14.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in the Wolves series.

Tougher test: Spurs

Experience: Can Spurs be exception?

The Spurs haven’t been here. Teams don’t go from out of the playoffs one year to on top of the world the next. Even the Thunder had to fail … once.

Harrison Barnes has the most playoff experience on the Spurs, and he’s been relegated out of the rotation. Of the Spurs’ starters, De’Aaron Fox is the only among them with any playoff scars. And Fox played in all of one series with the Kings.

Here are the Wolves’ starters by playoff games: Rudy Gobert (95), Anthony Edwards (51), Jaden McDaniels (48), Julius Randle (41), Ayo Dosunmu (14). Mike Conley has played in 119 playoff games.

The playoffs are a different game, and the Spurs are still learning the rules.

Tougher test: Timberwolves

More: LeBron James and Lakers pushed Thunder in Game 4 — but OKC pushed back harder

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