The Oklahoma City Thunder hold a clear edge in the Western Conference finals matchup against the San Antonio Spurs, driven by their league-best 64-18 regular-season record, undefeated 8-0 playoff run featuring sweeps of the Suns and Lakers, and the resulting rest advantage heading into Game 1 on May 18. Traders see the Thunder's elite defense, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP-caliber play, and experience as a defending champion as decisive factors in a series where home-court edge and momentum favor OKC. The Spurs, at 62-20, reached this stage through strong regular-season form and a six-game second-round win over the Timberwolves, highlighted by Victor Wembanyama and emerging contributors like Stephon Castle, yet their relative lack of deep playoff experience keeps their implied probability lower in the current consensus.