OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Timberwolves have an opponent for the right to qualify for the NBA Finals.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points, Jalen Williams added 24 and the Oklahoma City Thunder rolled into the Western Conference finals, beating the Denver Nuggets 125-93 in Game 7.
The top-seeded Thunder will host the sixth-seeded Timberwolves starting Tuesday.
The Wolves are in the Western Conference finals for the third time in franchise history, and second consecutive season.
Dallas eliminated the Wolves in five games a year ago.
Their only other trip to the conference finals was in 2004, when the Lakers won in six games.
It’s Oklahoma City’s first trip to the conference finals since 2016.
Oklahoma City went a league-best 68-14 in the regular season, becoming the youngest team to win at least 60 games.
To back up their status as the best team in the league, the Thunder had to get past three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and a Denver squad that won the NBA title in 2023 and beat the Los Angeles Clippers in seven games in the first round this year.
Here is the schedule for the Wolves-Thunder series:
• Game 1: Timberwolves at Oklahoma City (Tue. May 20, 7:30 CT, ESPN)
• Game 2: Timberwolves at Oklahoma City (Thu. May 22, 7:30 CT, ESPN)
• Game 3: Oklahoma City vs. Timberwolves at Target Center (Sat. May 24, 7:30 CT, ABC)
• Game 4: Oklahoma City vs. Timberwolves at Target Center (Mon. May 26, 7:30 CT, ESPN)
If necessary:
• Game 5: Timberwolves at Oklahoma City (Wed. May 28, 7:30 CT, ESPN)*
• Game 6: Oklahoma City vs. Timberwolves at Target Center (Fri. May 30, 7:30 CT, ESPN)*
• Game 7: Timberwolves at Oklahoma City (Sun. June 1, 7 CT, ESPN)*