On ESPN's "NBA Countdown" for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets' Game 6 matchup, Stephen A. Smith was not concerned with who may come out of that series to face the Timberwolves in the conference finals. "I believe the Minnesota Timberwolves should be the favorite to win the championship at this point," Smith said on May 15.

The Minnesota Timberwolves reached their second straight Western Conference Finals as they downed the Golden State Warriors 121-110 to close out a 4-1 series win.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are headed to the Western Conference finals for a second straight season after dominating the Warriors in Game 5 and really for the bulk of this series from the moment Stephen Curry went down. Golden State tried to fight without its superstar, but was outmatched everywhere and on both ends of the floor.