Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is being labeled a flopper again by media during the Lakers series.
Following a decisive four-game sweep over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Oklahoma City Thunder are now in the Western Conference Finals.
So now, the question everyone is asking is: who is going to stop OKC from reaching the NBA Finals?
GettyOklahoma City Thunder Waiting on Next Opponent After Dominant Lakers Series
At present, the Spurs and Timberwolves have tied with 2-2 in their first four games, and the fifth game will be held in San Antonio.
Minnesota tied the series with a 114-109 victory in Game 4, while Victor Wembanyama was ejected, bringing more excitement to a series that remains very open.
In terms of betting, San Antonio is regarded as the stronger team going into the next match. Several prediction platforms have the Spurs as major favorites, indicating that experts predict them to win the next two games and qualify.
I believe the Spurs have a slightly better chance of advancing, largely because of the home crowd, Wembanyama’s availability, and the fact that Minnesota will be under pressure in San Antonio. However, the Wolves are capable of turning the tables with the kind of shooting from Anthony Edwards that can alter a series instantly.
If San Antonio pull it off, it would mean quite a different-looking challenge for OKC, at least on paper, as the Thunder only managed a 1-4 record against the Spurs this season.
If Minnesota wins, however, it is very likely that the Thunder would be more comfortable with the Wolves, as Oklahoma City is 2-2 against Minnesota in the season’s head-to-head series. That is the reason the next 2 games are so critical for the Western Conference race.
My rough understanding is that OKC are in a very favorable position at the moment, but if I were the Thunder, I would probably be hoping for the Wolves as the next opponents rather than the Spurs.
In any case, the Western Conference Finals will be a real challenge, and OKC deserves to be on the sidelines for now, observing the action.
GettyAfter Sweeping the Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder Await West Finals Opponent
Oklahoma City didn’t merely outscore the Lakers; it was almost as if they dominated the Lakers. The Thunder won the game 4 with a score of 115 – 110. It kept their undefeated record in the 2026 playoffs at 8-0, and now have plenty of time to watch the western semis.
As for me, that’s what makes the Thunder such a threat. They aren’t chasing a matchup, rather they are forcing teams to come to them. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been the main driving force, but the bigger picture is how well-balanced the whole team has been in the first two rounds.
If the Thunder maintain their defense at this level, their next opponent will have to play almost flawless basketball to make it through a seven-game series.
Jayesh Pagar Jayesh Pagar is a writer at Heavy Sports, covering the New York Knicks and other NBA teams. He brings four years of experience across digital sports media, including NBA, WNBA, college basketball, and college football. He covered as the Knicks beat writer for ONSI and has written for PFSN, Sporting News, and ClutchPoints. More about Jayesh Pagar
此内容由惯性聚合(RSS阅读器)自动聚合整理，仅供阅读参考。 原文来自 — 版权归原作者所有。