The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered their worst loss of the season on Sunday afternoon—a 120-104 defeat in Detroit against the Piston’s, the league’s worst team. No excuse exists that can justify a loss like that, especially considering the Pistons were playing the second game of a back-to-back, so we need to move on from that one as quickly as possible.
The best way to move on from an ugly loss is to pick up a good win, and fortunately for OKC, they get that opportunity tonight in their own second game of a back-to-back when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves are also coming off a bad loss—a 113-112 defeat in San Antonio against the Spurs—so they are also looking to get back into the win column.
Tonight’s game will likely have several postgame implications, so add that to the list of reasons both teams need a win. OKC currently holds a 2-1 lead over Minnesota in the season series, and the teams are tied in the Western Conference standings. If the Thunder wins, they will have sole possession of the top spot in the West—for now at least—and should a tie with the Wolves come up, they would hold the tiebreaker, as well. However, if Minnesota wins, it could throw plenty of confusion into the standings, should it come down to that at the end of the season.
Last time these two teams met, Wolves guard Anthony Edwards missed three straight free throws near the end of the game, which ultimately gave OKC a 102-97 win in Minnesota. After the game, Edwards made comments alluding to the fact that he believed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was so difficult to guard only because he gets to the free throw line every time he’s touched. I’m sure those comments will play out some type of way in tonight’s game.
Full season consequences aside, the Thunder needs to put Sunday’s loss to Detroit in the past and focus on the now. With just 8 games remaining until the NBA All-Star Break, OKC needs to make sure that they continue rolling and enter the break with some momentum so that they can pop out the other side ready to finish the regular season strong and prepared to make some noise in the postseason.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 7 PM CT
Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Television: Bally Sports Oklahoma
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live tweets and discussion during the game
Game Notes: Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes, Minnesota Timberwolves Official Game Notes
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Josh Giddey
- SF: Luguentz Dort
- PF: Jalen Williams
- C: Chet Holmgren
Wolves
- PG: Mike Conley
- SG: Anthony Edwards
- SF: Jaden McDaniels
- PF: Karl-Anthony Towns
- C: Rudy Gobert
Injury Report
Thunder
- Ousmane Dieng is OUT (G League — on assignment).
- Tre Mann is OUT (not with team).
Wolves
- Jaylen Clark is OUT (right achilles tendon rupture rehab).
- Mike Conley is QUESTIONABLE (left hamstring soreness).
- Leonard Miller is OUT (G League — on assignment).
- Josh Minott is OUT (G League — on assignment).
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 38-23 against the Timberwolves (19-10 at home, 19-13 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the 4-game regular season series against the Timberwolves 9 times, lost it 3 times, and tied it twice.
- The Thunder went 1-4 against the Timberwolves last season, including the Play-In Game (0-2 at home, 1-2 on the road).
- The Thunder is 2-1 against the Timberwolves so far this season (1-0 at home, 1-1 on the road).