It’s almost cruel how the Oklahoma City Thunder lull teams into a false confidence before recalibrating the game, turning it on its head and delivering blow after knockout blow. The Thunder, as precocious as they are,

The Timberwolves couldn’t buy a bucket from deep, as the Thunder continued to dare Minnesota shooters to let it fly while turnovers put the final nail in the Timberwolves' game 1 coffin.

It's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

For a half on Tuesday, the Minnesota Timberwolves contained the Thunder offense and threatened to steal Game 1. But as it's done throughout the playoffs, Oklahoma City's depth proved to be too much.

For the first two rounds of these playoffs — and, really, the six-plus weeks leading up to them — Minnesota had consistently been the bigger, faster, stronger team on the floor.

Oklahoma City Thunder triumphed over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals with a decisive 114-88 victory. Shai Gilgeo

The Timberwolves are built to win now and later, but this version of the team might be their best shot to win it all.

Naz Reid was rendered ineffective toward the end of the Timberwolves-Warriors series, but the Thunder are a whole other ball of wax. Our NBA betting picks and prop plays believe Reid will be much more involved in T-Wolves vs.