Tip-Off: 5:00 PM CST
Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City, OK)
Television: FSN, FSOK
Radio: The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @TheThunderGuys for live-tweets during the game
Opposing Player to Watch
C Karl-Anthony Towns: Last season’s NBA Rookie of the Year Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 19.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 35.3 minutes per game this season. Towns is the type of guy that is actually going to go head-t0-head with the Thunder bigs, so keeping him out of the paint and off the block is key to getting a victory tonight.
Keys to the Game
- Protect the 3-Point Line: Through four games, the Minnesota Timberwolves lead the NBA in 3-point % at 41.5%. Oklahoma City is susceptible to giving up a lot of points behind the arc, so the Thunder perimeter defense must be on point tonight.
- Force Turnovers: Minnesota has done a fantastic job of taking care of the ball so far this season averaging only 15.5 turnovers per game (4th in the NBA). Oklahoma City loves to play in transition, so forcing turnovers to create fast-break opportunities must be a focal point for tonight.
- Take Good Shots: Despite a 1-3 start for the Timberwolves, they have played some really solid defense, ranking at the top of the league in a number of categories, including opponent field goal attempts/makes, opponent rebounds, and opponent assists. The Thunder offense plays about as well as the team shoots, so taking smart, efficient shots will be key to being successful on the offensive end.
Article written by Zack Low. Follow @TheThunderGuys on Twitter.