The Oklahoma City Thunder made a big statement on Tuesday night.
They dominated the Dallas Mavericks on both ends of the floor, making shot after shot, cleaning the glass, and feeding off each other’s energy throughout the entire game.
There’s still plenty of basketball left in that series, and going up 1-0 is no guarantee.
However, they’re undefeated after five postseason contests, and they’re peaking at the right time.
That’s why Stephen A. Smith believes they’re on a collision course to square off vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals.
Talking on ESPN’s “First Take,” Smith stated that he just doesn’t see the Timberwolves losing this series to the Denver Nuggets after going up 2-0 on the road, as they would have to lose four of the next five, with three of those games taking place in Minnesota.
.@stephenasmith says the Timberwolves and Thunder are on a collision course to meet in the WCF 🍿 pic.twitter.com/jhIt0Bgjei
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 8, 2024
As for the Thunder, he believes they are a little thin and could use more muscle, but he also thinks they’re playing flawless basketball.
Smith raved about the Thunder’s athleticism and shot-making, but the fact that they’re actually friends and seem to have strong chemistry is also a major factor.
He lauded them for knowing when to defer to their superstar and also praised Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for trusting his teammates when needed.
These two teams are the only two undefeated squads in the postseason, and while something will have to give eventually, we could be in for a matchup for the ages if — when — their paths cross in the final step before the NBA Finals.
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