By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Golden State Warriors, 121-110, to advance to the Western Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google.
Helping to wrap up a Semifinals best-of-seven series at 4-1 with a fourth straight win, Rudy Gobert put in 17 points behind 8/9 two-pointers to go with eight rebounds and one block over 27 minutes in Target Center on Wednesday.
“I tried to really focus on my preparation, and once I am on the floor, it’s about enjoying the moment, being present on both ends, and trying to set the tone for my teammates. And doing it with my energy. And then usually the game takes care of itself,” said the 32-year-old French center in a postgame press conference.
The Oklahoma City Thunder or the Denver Nuggets will be the next opponent for the Wolves.
“It’s about us. It’s not about who we face. It’s about our mindset, work, and attention to detail. Our level of urgency is right. We know we can play with anyone,” mentioned Gobert.
“I’m just focused on winning a championship,” he stressed, “That’s all I care about.”
In last season’s Playoffs, the Timberwolves reached the West Finals but fell to the Dallas Mavericks and Luka Doncic in five games.
“It’s about not getting too high or too low, being present, enjoying every single day, every single practice, every single game. And when the opportunity comes, being ready,” Gobert commented on a second straight opportunity to advance to the Finals, “We’re halfway there. It’s almost like a new season starting.”
Missing Stephen Curry, the visitors struggled and eventually fell into a 25-point deficit late in the third period. Logging nearly ten minutes in Game 5, Dutch Quinten Post went for three points and three rebounds.
2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google
Conference Quarterfinals (best of seven)
East
Cleveland Cavaliers – Miami Heat 4-0 (121-100, 121-112, 124-87, 138-83)
Boston Celtics – Orlando Magic 4-1 (103-86, 109-100, 93-95, 107-98, 120-89)
New York Knicks – Detroit Pistons 4-2 (123-112, 94-100, 118-116, 94-93, 103-106, 116-113)
Indiana Pacers – Milwaukee Bucks 4-1 (117-98, 123-115, 101-117, 129-103, 119-118)
West
Oklahoma City Thunder – Memphis Grizzlies 4-0 (131-80, 118-99, 114-108, 117-115)
Houston Rockets – Golden State Warriors 3-4 (85-95, 109-94, 93-104, 106-109, 131-116, 115-107, 89-103)
Los Angeles Lakers – Minnesota Timberwolves 1-4 (95-117, 94-85, 104-116, 113-116, 96-103)
Denver Nuggets – Los Angeles Clippers 4-3 (112-110, 102-105, 83-117, 101-99, 131-115, 105-111, 120-101)
Conference Semifinals (best of seven)
East
Cleveland Cavaliers – Indiana Pacers 1-4 (112-121, 119-120, 126-104, 109-129, 105-114)
Boston Celtics – New York Knicks 2-3 (105-108, 90-91, 115-93, 113-121, 127-102)
West
Oklahoma City Thunder – Denver Nuggets 3-2 (119-121, 149-106, 104-113, 92-87, 112-105)
Minnesota Timberwolves – Golden State Warriors 4-1 (88-99, 117-93, 102-97, 117-110, 121-110)
Conference Finals (best of seven)
East
New York Knicks OR Boston Celtics – Indiana Pacers
West
Oklahoma City Thunder OR Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves
NBA Finals (best of seven)
Eastern Conference and Western Conference champions