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In a rapid progression to the Western Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs sponsored by Google, the Oklahoma City Thunder triumphed over the Minnesota Timberwolves with a score of 114-88 at Paycom Center.
This marked the beginning of a best-of-seven series vying for a place in the NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV, with the home team having had a brief recovery period. Despite this, they asserted their dominance in the second half on Tuesday, creating distance and taking a 1-0 lead.
“We were focused from the outset. Our team defense was exceptional throughout the game,” remarked Isaiah Hartenstein during a postgame press conference after Game 1. “Once our offense started to click, that’s when we raised our game to another level.”
“The only thing we focused on was reviewing game footage. We didn’t even hit the court. It was all about maintaining our health and ensuring we were in the right condition,” the 27-year-old German center explained, reflecting on their sole day off since their Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets on NBA Sundays.
As a starter for Mark Daigneault’s squad, Hartenstein played close to 20 minutes, contributing 12 points with 6-of-8 shooting from inside the arc. He also grabbed five rebounds and recorded a steal, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 31 points, 20 of which came in the second half.
With the Thunder firmly in control, Belgian Ajay Mitchell and Frenchman Ousmane Dieng each played two minutes, with Mitchell securing one rebound. Serbian Nikola Topic remained on the bench following left knee surgery.
On the opposing side, French star Rudy Gobert was limited to just two points, three rebounds, one block, one steal, and one assist in 21 minutes, while Bosnian Luka Garza managed only two unproductive minutes.
**Playoff Series Results:**
– Cleveland Cavaliers defeated Miami Heat 4-0 (121-100, 121-112, 124-87, 138-83)
– Boston Celtics exceeded Orlando Magic 4-1 (103-86, 109-100, 93-95, 107-98, 120-89)
– New York Knicks faced off against Detroit Pistons 4-2 (123-112, 94-100, 118-116, 94-93, 103-106, 116-113)
– Indiana Pacers bested Milwaukee Bucks 4-1 (117-98, 123-115, 101-117, 129-103, 119-118)
– Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Memphis Grizzlies 4-0 (131-80, 118-99, 114-108, 117-115)
– Houston Rockets battled the Golden State Warriors to a 3-4 finish (85-95, 109-94, 93-104, 106-109, 131-116, 115-107, 89-103)
– Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated by Minnesota Timberwolves 1-4 (95-117, 94-85, 104-116, 113-116, 96-103)
– Denver Nuggets edged out the Los Angeles Clippers 4-3 (112-110, 102-105, 83-117, 101-99, 131-115, 105-111, 120-101)
– Cleveland Cavaliers fell to Indiana Pacers 1-4 (112-121, 119-120, 126-104, 109-129, 105-114)
– Boston Celtics were bested by New York Knicks 2-4 (105-108, 90-91, 115-93, 113-121, 127-102, 81-119)
– Oklahoma City Thunder edged out Denver Nuggets 4-3 (119-121, 149-106, 104-113, 92-87, 112-105, 107-119, 125-93)
– Minnesota Timberwolves surpassed Golden State Warriors 4-1 (88-99, 117-93, 102-97, 117-110, 121-110)
**Upcoming Matchup**: New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers
**Current Series**: Oklahoma City Thunder lead Minnesota Timberwolves 1-0 (114-88)
**Eastern and Western Conference Champions**
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