Good news for Thunder fans: The stat that virtually places OKC in the NBA Finals
The Oklahoma City Thunder are one win away from sealing their place in the NBA championship series.
NBA history strongly suggests that the Oklahoma City Thunder will complete a Conference Finals victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, having taken a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Can Thunder complete Finals return?
Following a 128-126 win in Game 4 on Monday, the Thunder will get their opening opportunity to seal a series triumph tonight, when the No. 1 seed hosts the Timberwolves at Paycom Center.
If Oklahoma City goes on to book its place in the NBA Finals - against either the New York Knicks or the Indiana Pacers - it will be the Thunder’s first appearance in the championship series since 2012.
The franchise hasn’t won an NBA title since 1979, when it competed as the Seattle SuperSonics.
Timberwolves’ tall order
If the Timberwolves are to deny the Thunder a shot at the Larry O’Brien Trophy, Minnesota must pull off a series comeback that has only happened 13 times previously in the NBA Playoffs.
The most recent NBA team to recover from 3-1 down in the postseason was the Denver Nuggets, in 2020.
The Nuggets overhauled the Los Angeles Clippers to progress from the Western Conference Semi-Finals - having also bounced back from the same deficit against the Utah Jazz in that year’s First Round.
❝The most important game in the Playoffs is always the next one.❞
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 27, 2025
Hear more from Coach Daigneault 📺 https://t.co/Le9TazYr7I pic.twitter.com/sghwzd5Xsr
Which teams have come back from 3-1 in the NBA Playoffs? The full list:
- 2020 Conference Semi-Finals: Nuggets vs Clippers
- 2020 First Round: Nuggets vs Jazz
- 2016 Finals: Cavaliers vs Warriors
- 2016 Conference Finals: Warriors vs Thunder
- 2015 Conference Semi-Finals: Rockets vs Clippers
- 2006 First Round: Suns vs Lakers
- 2003 First Round: Pistons vs Magic
- 1997 Conference Semi-Finals: Heat vs Knicks
- 1995 Conference Semi-Finals: Rockets vs Suns
- 1981 Conference Finals: 76ers vs Celtics
- 1979 Conference Finals: Spurs vs Bullets
- 1970 Division Semi-Finals: Lakers vs Suns
- 1968 Division Finals: 76ers vs Celtics
Even more ominously for the Timberwolves - who must now win twice on the road - Forbes journalist Shane Young points out that only two of the above fightbacks took place in the Conference Finals or later against a team with home-court advantage.
One was the Cleveland Cavaliers’ title-winning turnaround against the Golden State Warriors in 2016; the other was the Boston Celtics’ comeback against the Philadelphia 76ers in 1968.
The OKC Thunder lead the West Finals 3-1
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) May 27, 2025
Here's the historical context:
Teams leading 3-1 in the Conference Finals or later, with homecourt advantage, are 61-2 in terms of winning the series.
Get ready for the Finals in Oklahoma City.
Timberwolves vs Thunder: tip-off times, how to watch
In Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder meet today, Wednesday May 28, 2025, with tip-off at Paycom Center scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT.
Viewers in the U.S. can watch the action on ESPN. You can stream ESPN on the online platform fubo, which offers new users a free trial.
You can also follow live-text coverage of the game right here at AS USA.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment
Your opinion will be published with first and last names