The NBA Playoffs spark rivalries that end up defining eras. But this has particularly not been the case between the Oklahoma City Thunder (formerly the Seattle SuperSonics) and the Minnesota Timberwolves. To start off with, these two teams are not your quintessential rivals in terms of NBA history.
However, things can take only the slightest of time to change, and such can be the case between Minnesota and Oklahoma. These two franchises have only met twice—namely in 1998 and now the upcoming 2025 Western Conference finals.
The two teams are set to lock horns. Okhlahoma took the home advantage in Game 1 at the Paycom Center. They won 114-88 to take a 1-0 lead in the series so far. With each clash marking a crucial moment in their respective journeys, here’s a look at their all-time playoff head-to-head records.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Minnesota Timberwolves
1998: A Brief but Notable First Encounter
The first encounter for both these teams in the playoffs dates back to to the 1998 NBA Playoffs. The times were certainly different. During that era, the Oklahoma City Thunder were known as the Seattle SuperSonics. The Timberwolves meanwhile were a relatively new team, making their maiden playoffs appearance since their inception in 1989. They finished the regular season as the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference, while Seattle claimed the No. 3 seed.
In a best-of-five first-round series, the SuperSonics managed to hold off the Timberwolves in five games (3–2). Though Seattle won the series, Minnesota’s performance was far from forgettable. Led by a young Kevin Garnett and Stephon Marbury, the Timberwolves showed flashes of potential, challenging the experienced SuperSonics—who featured stars in the squad like Gary Payton and Detlef Schrempf—to the brink.
The 1998 series, although short, laid out the foundation for Minnesota’s future relevance in the Western Conference.
2025: Renewed Stakes in the Conference Finals
Fast forward to the 2025 NBA Playoffs, and the Timberwolves and Thunder have found themselves on a collision course once again. But this time, the stakes are much higher with the Western Conference Finals on the line. Both teams have gone through drastic transitions since their 1998 clash. For starters, the Sonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008 and became the City Thunder. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves rebuilt themselves around a talented core led by Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert.
Oklahoma’s 2025 squad, led by young stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, reached the Western Conference Finals after a nail-biting seven-game series against the Denver Nuggets. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves cruised past the Golden State Warriors and wrapped up the fixture in five games, displaying their elite defense and offensive versatility.
This fixture is a notable one, because it marks a coming-of-age moment for both the franchises. The Thunders are heading to their first Conference Finals since 2016. It was a time, when they had stars like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in their roster. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves are finally hoping to win their maiden Western Conference Finals, after coming agonisingly close last season. In their entire history, they made it to the finals thrice—2004, 2024 and this time in 2025.
Related: New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers All-time Head-to-Head Playoffs Record
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Minnesota Timberwolves:
Head-to-Head Playoff Summary
Here’s a look at the Timberwolves-Thunder all-time playoff record as of May 2025:
- Total Playoff Series: 2 (1998, 2025)
- Series Wins:
- Oklahoma City Thunder (formerly Seattle SuperSonics) – 1
- Minnesota Timberwolves – 0 (with current series ongoing)
- Total Playoff Games Played: 5 (from 1998 series; 2025 series ongoing)
- Playoff Game Wins (as of 1998 only):
- Thunder/Sonics – 3
- Timberwolves – 2
While Oklahoma City Thunder holds the historical edge due to its 1998 victory, the Minnesota Timberwolves have a chance to equalize the score. A victory here would not only balance their head-to-head playoff record. But it would also ensure that the Timberwolves are in the NBA Finals—a first in their franchise history.
They would really hope to cross the final hurdle to finally make it to the NBA Finals—a feat they are yet to achieve.
Currently, the Timberwolves are 1-0 behind in the series, after Thunder won Game 1 by 114-88. But the series is still up for grabs, with six more games to go. Therefore, it promises to be a clash between two promising young cores in the league. The rivalry gets growing with fans witnessing tight finishes, tactical adjustments, and breakout performances.
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