The Western Conference Semifinals are set, with the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder hosting No. 4 Los Angeles Los Angeles Lakers, and No. 2 San Antonio Spurs facing No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves. Both series feature top-10 NBA players sidelined by injury, accentuating the favorite status of the Thunder and Spurs.

Oklahoma City and San Antonio finished first and second in Net Rating during the regular season. Both are approximately 14-point favorites in their respective Game 1 matchups.

Series odds reflect similar confidence. The Thunder open at -3000 and the Spurs at -2000, implying a 97% and 95% probability of advancing, respectively.

Luka Doncic, recovering from a Grade 2 left hamstring injury, is considered unlikely to return for the second round. Anthony Edwards is working back from a bone bruise and hyperextended knee suffered in Game 4 of the first round.

Minnesota advanced without Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo and Ayo Dosunmu in a Game 6 win over the Denver Nuggets. DiVincenzo is out for the season with a torn Achilles, leaving the Wolves to face Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio without their entire starting backcourt.

Oklahoma City swept Los Angeles 4-0 in the regular season by an average of 29.3 points, the largest point-differential gap between any second-round matchup this postseason.