"Wolves in five" has become a rallying cry for local fans.

It also has been the reality of their first two playoff series, with the Timberwolves dispatching first the favored Lakers and then the Stephen Curry-less Warriors four games to one to reach their second consecutive Western Conference finals.

Just as was the case in the first round, the Wolves have had the luxury of resting and waiting to see who, when and where they play next.

And just as was the case in the first round, the series the Wolves waited for went the distance. The top-seeded Thunder finally put away the fourth-seeded Nuggets on Sunday with a dominant 125-93 victory in Game 7 in Oklahoma City.

 

 

That means the Western Conference finals will start Tuesday in Oklahoma City. Games will be every other day for the rest of the schedule, starting with the Wolves on the road for Game 2 on Thursday and back at home Saturday and May 26 — Memorial Day — for Games 3 and 4.

If necessary, Game 5 would be May 28 at Oklahoma City; Game 6 would be May 30 at Target Center; and Game 7 would be June 1 at Oklahoma City.

All games in the conference finals are slated for either 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. Central time starts. Western Conference games are set for ESPN or ABC, with the Eastern Conference games on TNT.

 

 

Oklahoma City was far and away the best team in the Western Conference during the regular season, winning 68 games (16 more than any other team and 19 more than the Wolves). The Thunder, who went 2-2 against the Wolves this season, have the depth and size to match the Wolves as well as likely MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. But they also lack playoff experience and have shown vulnerability during their seven-game series with Denver — at least, before their runaway in Game 7 — after breezing through the first round vs. Memphis.

Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 29.0 points per game in 11 postseason games, down a shade from his league-high 32.7 average during the regular season. Former Minnehaha Academy standout Chet Holmgren is averaging nearly a double-double in the playoffs at 15.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. Off the bench, veteran guard Alex Caruso scored in double digits five times against the Nuggets, including the last four games.

 

One thing is for sure: The "Wolves in five" mantra will be put to the test.

SCHEDULE

Tuesday: at Oklahoma City, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

Thursday: at Oklahoma City, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPNews)

Saturday: at Wolves, 7:30 p.m. (ABC/ESPNews)

May 26: at Wolves, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

If necessary

May 28: at Oklahoma City, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

May 30: at Wolves, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

June 1: at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m. (ESPN)