3 Battles Excluding Anthony Edwards vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Watch out In Thunder-Timberwolves WCF

The Minnesota Timberwolves booked an early ticket to return to the Western Conference Finals after Anthony Edwards and his teammates dispatched the Golden State Warriors. They will face Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder for a chance to battle for the 2025 NBA title.

Those two young guards have proved to the basketball world that they are a cut above the rest. There are conversations on who would take on the mantle of the Face of the NBA. Many believed Anthony Edwards had done enough, but Stephen A. Smith believes that will only happen if he wins the West.

That means Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also has a chance to snatch that crown. He is already the favorite to win the regular season MVP award. Therefore, if he trumps Edwards, more so in a one-on-one battle in these upcoming games, he could become the heir to the throne.

Both these guards are exceptional scorers and defenders. The sight of them going at each other will be basketball at its finest. But these two are not the only matchups to watch out for as the two teams start the Western Conference Finals on May 20th.

Rudy Gobert vs Isaiah Hartenstein

Rudy Gobert has often been considered to be a defensive star while being limited offensively. But there were spurts in both the playoff series where he displayed he can go up and score when presented the opportunity.

Isaiah Hartenstein has a similar style of play. He focuses on establishing the interior defense, while also throwing up floaters along with some alley-oop dunks when needed. Both the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves employ the two big man combination.

That means the battle for the interior will be won by either of these two. Whoever wins will be able to set the tone for their respective teams. Both these players are also tasked with creating space for their teammates. That means the onus is on them to help either Anthony Edwards or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shine.

Chet Holmgren vs Julius Randle

Chet Holmgren was supposed to take the next step in terms of his growth as a star big man. But the presence of Isaiah Hartenstein has slowed that down. On the flip side, his ability to move around and score from anywhere on the court has given the Oklahoma City Thunder an added dimension.

Julius Randle can also score from anywhere on the floor. His soft touch, along with his penchant to make something out of nothing, has helped the Minnesota Timberwolves defy predictions. Along with that, he can as a help defender even though defense is not his strong point.

But Holmgren can defend, and he comes over to help Isaiah Hartenstein slow down players inside the paint. It will be up to Julius Randle to spread the floor and pull the Thunder star away from the rim. He can do so and did that exceptionally well in the second round. Therefore, how these two influence the game will have a direct impact on the final result.

Jaden McDaniels vs Jalen Williams

Jaden McDaniels has come a long way to establish himself as one of the key cogs in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ NBA title aspirations. He might not be an all-out explosive scorer, but he does what is needed on both ends of the floor.

Jalen Williams has a more expanded role for the Oklahoma City Thunder. McDaniels helps Anthony Edwards and sometimes ends up as the second scoring option. But Williams plays second-fiddle to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and is their designated second option when it comes to scoring.

Both these players are exceptional perimeter defenders and can have a massive influence on the outcome of the game. Other than Ant Man and SGA, the end result of the Western Conference Finals depends on how these two step up.

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