Minnesota can now reclaim its preferred role of underdog.

After a series against Golden State which it entered as a favorite and grew to a near guaranteed victor after an injury, the Timberwolves are heavy betting underdogs in the Western Conference Finals against top-seeded Oklahoma City.

The Thunder toppled Denver in Game 7 of their conference semifinal on Sunday, and will host Minnesota for Game 1 of the West Finals at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Here’s a look at the series:

Schedule

Game 1: Tuesday, May 20 in Oklahoma City, 7:30 pm, ESPN

Game 2: Thursday, May 22 in Oklahoma City, 7:30 pm, ESPN

Game 3: Saturday, May 24 in Minnesota, 7:30 pm, ABC

Game 4: Monday, May 26 in Minnesota, 7:30 pm, ESPN

Game 5: Wednesday, May 28 in Oklahoma City, 7:30 pm, ESPN

Game 6: Friday, May 30 in Minnesota, 7:30 pm, ESPN

Game 7: Sunday, June 1 in Oklahoma City, 7 pm, ESPN

Regular season series

The two teams tied a pair of matchups, 2-2. Rudy Gobert played in just one of the games for Minnesota – a loss on New Year’s Eve. Minnesota was down Gobert, Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo for the final three matchups, which were all played around the all-star break.

Timberwolves keys to victory

Ball control: The one time Minnesota was fairly thoroughly beaten by Oklahoma City this season – on New Year’s Eve in Oklahoma City – Minnesota turned the ball over 24 times, which led to 31 Thunder points.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch has repeatedly harped the importance of not turning the ball over against the Thunder, something Minnesota managed well in the other three matchups during the season. Minnesota won two of those contests.

Oklahoma City led the NBA with the lowest turnover percentage (11.9%) and the highest opponent turnover percentage (16.9%).

During the regular season, the Thunder scored 18.1% of their points off turnovers, an NBA high. That number has spiked to north of 20% in the postseason.

Eight Denver turnovers in the second quarter Sunday sparked the start of the Thunder run that clinched that series.

Minnesota’s defense could cause havoc for Oklahoma City in the half court, but the Wolves will have to limit their giveaways to keep the Thunder from capitalizing in easy transition.

Win the 3-point battle: Minnesota was fifth this season in 3-point makes (15.0). The Thunder were sixth. With the gravity each team’s star player – Anthony Edwards for Minnesota and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for Oklahoma City – possesses, the role players for both teams figure to have numerous decent looks from the perimeter.

Those are likely the best scoring chances either side will generate in the halfcourt. Both teams have lineups flush with guys who can knock down the triple, but both teams have shown in the postseason that those “others” can run hot and cold from distance.

Whether it’s a night where Lu Dort makes four 3-pointers or Donte DiVincenzo could determine a contest.

Gobert games: Rudy Gobert’s impact has fluctuated for Minnesota throughout the postseason. Minnesota’s defense and rebounding is unquestionably better when the center is on the floor.

But there have been times where the opponent’s ability to disregard Gobert without Minnesota making the defense pay with easy looks for the center inside has stalled out Minnesota’s offense.

One way to beat Oklahoma City is on the glass. The easiest way for the Wolves to do that is with Gobert on the floor. But only if Minnesota can maintain some semblance of offense in the process.

Limit Shai: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the likely MVP this season. But teams this postseason have found the best way to beat the Thunder is to force the ball out of Gilgeous-Alexander’s hands.

That’s what Minnesota did in its wild, 25-point fourth quarter rally to beat the Thunder in February.

Minnesota trapped the star guard out of a zone, and Gilgeous-Alexander’s teammates failed to make outside shots. If you can limit Gilgeous-Alexander’s offensive output, Oklahoma City struggles to put up enough points to put you away.

Prediction

Minnesota in 7. The Timberwolves have been to this point, while this edition of the Thunder are making their first appearance on this stage.

It’s easier to trust Minnesota’s experience and ability to perform at a consistent level around its superstar at this juncture.

MILWAUKEE — In the run-up to his first big league start of the season, Minnesota Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews admitted that he had struggled with walks in a few of his minor league starts in 2025, but felt that his stuff had been good.

On Sunday at American Family Field, Matthews’ stuff generally was good, with five strikeouts in just three innings of work, but ultimately a series of walks proved to be his undoing.

Three Brewers who had gotten free passes in the third inning came around to score as Milwaukee beat the Twins 5-2 in the finale of their Rivalry Series, snapping the second-best win streak in franchise history at 13.

“Couldn’t get it done today. An amazing run over the last two weeks. I had to tell the guys that after the game,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “There’s a lot of work to be done, and I told them we’re just kind of scratching the surface as far as what we’re capable of this year. That was just a great run of baseball, one of the best two-week spans of baseball I’ve ever been a part of in my life, and we want to get it going again tomorrow and start a new one.”

The Twins begin a three-game series against Cleveland on Monday at Target Field. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m.

Royce Lewis hit a homer, and was inches from a second, but Minnesota ultimately could not overcome Milwaukee’s early lead.

“It goes back to the walks there. It’s hard to get away with three walks in an inning regardless of the pitcher,” said Matthews, who only walked three. “Ultimately, get the two quick outs, (I’ve) got to finish the inning there. Definitely got to be better there.”

Matthews ran the Twins’ team record scoreless innings streak to 34 in the first, striking out the side on 11 pitches. But Milwaukee finally made a mark on its massive, and malfunctioning, scoreboard in the second inning.

Christian Yelich and Rhys Hoskins both singled and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Isaac Collins. When Sal Frelick dropped a single into right field, Yelich came in from third for the first Brewers run of the series.

After getting two quick outs in the third, Matthews made more trouble for himself, walking the bases loaded, then surrendering a two-run single to Collins, and another RBI single to Frelick as Milwaukee opened up a 4-0 lead. Matthews, who fell to 0-1 with the loss, ended up throwing more than 40 of his 71 pitches in that inning, which prompted a pitching change.

“It started out really strong. The fastball and the breaking ball all looked good. He throws a good cutter, as well, and he mixed that in,” Baldelli said. “But that inning, I think what happened was he probably lost the command a little bit. He threw a couple of strikes that he didn’t get calls on, and that doesn’t necessarily mean he would have gotten through the inning clean or anything like that. But it’s tough.”

Minnesota finally had an offensive answer in the top of the fourth when Lewis hit a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence for his first home run of the season. The Twins got a pair of walks and an error in the inning to load the bases with two outs, but Ryan Jeffers flew out to right to end the threat.

After reliever Cole Sands set the Brewers down in order in the fourth, Kody Clemens sent a ball to the wall in deep center with two outs in the fifth, but Milwaukee outfielder Jackson Chourio gloved it at the top of the fence.

Minnesota got a run back in the seventh, and was inches from tying the game in the eighth when Clemens led off with a double, then Chourio produced a web gem, leaping to pull a potential Lewis home run off the top of the fence in left center.

“If he doesn’t catch that, I think we win the game, for sure. It changes the momentum,” said Lewis, who noted the Twins are a confident bunch, despite the winning streak’s conclusion. “When a pitcher is smiling because he knows he got away with one, you know you’re in a good spot. I think we’re riding high. I know we lost today, but we had a great two weeks there. That was really awesome, and for me to be a part of it with these guys is special. We’re just going to keep going. We’re just getting started.”

With two outs, towering outfielder Carson McCusker made his major league debut as a pinch hitter and grounded out. He played right field in the bottom of the eighth.

After Minnesota pitchers had retired 13 straight Brewers, Milwaukee manufactured an insurance run in the eighth when William Contreras walked, went to second on a wild pitch, advanced on a grounder and scored on a sacrifice fly.

Royce Lewis #23 of the Minnesota Twins runs the bases following a home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning at American Family Field on May 18, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Royce Lewis #23 of the Minnesota Twins is congratulated by teammates following a home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning at American Family Field on May 18, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

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MILWAUKEE – When Twins newcomer Carson McCusker steps into the batter’s box, Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli doesn’t look at the rookie outfielder. He likes to look at the umpires and the faces of the opponents when they see the 6-foot-8 giant prepare to swing the bat.

Carson McCusker #60 of the Minnesota Twins swings at bat during the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on May 18, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

“I look forward to putting him out there, watching him hit and also the reaction of the other team when he steps on the field,” Baldelli said prior to Sunday’s game in Milwaukee, after McCusker joined the big league club for the first time. “I always look forward to the umpires and the opposing catchers looking at our dugout, like ‘Look at this guy.’ ”

Originally from Nevada, by way of college baseball at Oklahoma State, McCusker was on a St. Paul Saints road trip in Des Moines when he got word that he was needed in Milwaukee, and he made the five-hour drive to the shore of Lake Michigan.

“It’s been crazy,” said McCusker in the Twins’ clubhouse on Sunday morning. “Drove up here last night, got in pretty late. But pure excitement, and just ready to go.”

In addition to his imposing frame, the nearly 27-year-old is known for his bat. In 137 at-bats for St. Paul this season, he hit .350 with 10 home runs.

“I look forward to getting him out there, watching him go out there and swing the bat. He can obviously impact the baseball in a big way,” Baldelli said. “He has been doing that at AAA all season long for us. And another guy, I mean, we have a number of them on the roster right now, but another guy that’s really earned a tremendous opportunity to come here and do it. And I’m sure he’ll be twitching and sweating and waiting to get his name called and put out there.”

With the Twins recalling infielder Ryan Fitzgerald from the Saints on Friday, and pitcher Zebby Matthews joining the Twins from the Saints on Saturday, McCusker joked that he already feels right at home in the big league clubhouse.

“Just familiar faces and knowing some of the guys,” he said, having gotten to know many of the current Twins in spring training. “And then having some of the guys from the Saints up here as well makes it a lot easier.”

Coulombe headed to IL

Left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe became the Twins’ latest addition to their ever-growing list of unavailable players on Sunday, as he was added to the 15-day injured list, retroactive to May 15. Coulombe had made 19 consecutive scoreless appearances for the Twins prior to the injury, which is officially listed as a left forearm extensor strain.

“It’s been something I’ve been kind of just dealing with all year,” he said on Sunday. “When you’re 35, you’re not going to feel good all the time. But it’s just something that’s gotten progressively a little worse. We feel good about, it’s the time to get it right. I feel pretty optimistic it’s going to be a short absence.”

Baldelli said he is not overly concerned about Coulombe, who last pitched when the Twins swept a doubleheader in Baltimore last week.

“Danny hasn’t been available now since the last time he pitched. We’ve been working around him, trying to see if we could give him a little time and get him where he needs to be,” said the manager. “He has shown good improvement, but he’s not ready to pitch quite yet. So he’s going to need a little bit more. I’m not going to put a timeline on it. I’m not going to say it’s the minimum, but I’m optimistic that it won’t be too long.”

Celebrating a decade for Correa

Although he was unavailable to play due to a concussion, there were balloons in his locker and hugs from teammates as Carlos Correa’s 10 years in the majors was celebrated by the team on Sunday. The 30-year-old infielder made his major league debut with the Houston Astros in 2015 and was named American League rookie of the year that season. He has been with the Twins since 2022.

“It’s something every player takes an immense amount of pride in. It’s a very special day in a major-league clubhouse,” Baldelli said of Correa’s milestone. “We’ve had a few guys over the last couple of years. You can go years and years and not have one guy get to 10 years, sometimes even get close to 10 years while they’re on your team. It’s something that elicits emotion, gets guys fired up and it’s one of those few times where a guy gets to be the center of attention not for just hitting a big homer or saving the game. But it’s a lifetime achievement you get to celebrate with your teammates, and that’s a special thing. It’ll be great. Regardless of being active or not, this goes beyond any of that.”

This season Correa has batted .236 with two home runs in 148 at-bats.

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On its final weekend to pass bills, the Minnesota Legislature appeared on course for a special session to finish work on the next two-year state budget, as questions remain on whether a bipartisan deal announced last week will hold.

On Friday and Saturday, lawmakers took up several less controversial bills, including a housing bill, the veterans budget, K-12 education policy and spending, and a pension bill.

But after backlash to a proposal to end state-funded health insurance for people without legal immigration status, and resistance to a plan to close the state prison in Stillwater, the health and public safety bills have yet to be passed.

The regular session ends Monday, and lawmakers have to pass a two-year budget by the end of June 30 or the state government shuts down. As of Sunday afternoon, the Legislature was all but guaranteed to enter overtime. Leaders admitted this was likely last week.

In the last decade, there has been a special session every time control of government is split between the parties. Legislative leaders agree it’s likely they’ll have to return to the Capitol in coming weeks to finish the budget. But how long that will take is still hard to say.

Budget deal

Democratic-Farmer Labor Gov. Tim Walz as well as leaders from the Senate DFL majority and the 67-67 tied House, announced the budget deal Thursday.

If it makes it through in its current form, the state would have a two-year budget of more than $66 billion. It aims to control spending growth in social services and education to address a projected $6 billion budget shortfall projected for later this decade. It’s down from the last budget, which topped $70 billion. There are small tweaks to state taxes.

Besides the continuing debate on immigrant health care, a few other budget and policy areas remain in flux. A group of Democratic-Farmer-Labor and Republican legislators is still trying to make changes to new employee benefits the DFL-controlled state government created in 2023.

Sen. Judy Seeberger, DFL-Afton, and Rep. Dave Baker, R-Willmar, on Saturday told reporters they continue to push for more exemptions for small businesses from the paid family and medical leave system set to start in 2026.

Education

Another benefit targeted by Republicans this year appears to remain intact. As part of a deal on education spending, unemployment insurance for hourly school employees like bus drivers and cafeteria staff will remain funded through 2028.

Education budget bills headed to a conference committee to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions will preserve the benefit, which DFLers granted in 2023. Most of the $100 million in funding comes from a planned Duluth-Twin Cities passenger rail project that never got underway.

An impasse over that benefit initially hampered budget efforts, but as part of a broader budget deal announced Thursday, the issue appeared to have been resolved.

The education budget makes up around one-third of the current $71 billion two-year state budget. Under the deal, education spending will remain level for the next two years other than the required inflation-tied increases.

Other bills

The final version of the veterans affairs budget bill passed in the Senate and the House on Saturday and is headed to the desk of Gov. Tim Walz. Overall, the bill provides about $365 million in the next two years and increases spending by about $50 million in large part to help fund state veterans homes.

Money goes towards veteran suicide prevention and a pension credit for National Guard members deployed for state active duty, such as inn natural disasters. It also recognizes Southeast Asian special guerrilla units that fought for the U.S. during the Vietnam War.

On Sunday the House passed an agriculture budget, and a pensions bill that aims to boost funding for retirements for the State Patrol and other public employees.

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