The Oklahoma City Thunder saw their 6-game win streak come to an end on Saturday at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers, and now it’s time to get back on the winning track. Tonight the Thunder takes on the Minnesota Timberwolves in a road matchup between the top two teams in the Western Conference standings.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #17 Preview: Minnesota Timberwolves
As poorly as OKC played at times to end the season, they kicked it into another gear on Wednesday against the Pelicans. Minnesota is favored for a reason…for several reasons, actually, but the Thunder is young and perhaps too naive to believe the fact that they really shouldn’t even be in this game, so I fully expect them to be able to keep this one close if not outright pull out a win.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | Expect OKC to Cover on the Road Yet Again
The Oklahoma City Thunder continues to do the unthinkable as they now are just one win away from earning a spot in the NBA Playoffs. It wasn’t too long ago before the Thunder was in the early stages of their third straight season of tanking, but it didn’t take long for everyone to see just what this team was made of. Fast forward to present day, and OKC is fresh off a 123-118 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in their first play-in game.
View More OKC Thunder | Play-In Game #2 Preview: Minnesota Timberwolves
The Grizzlies are the top team in the Western Conference at the moment, riding a 7-game win streak, which includes a 41-point beatdown of the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night. The Thunder is going to have play a great game in order to keep this one close, but after dropping 10 of their last 14, perhaps OKC might have some extra desire to grab a win in front of the home crowd.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #30: Memphis Grizzlies
The Thunder is riding a season-high 4-game losing streak right now, and it should come to an end tonight. The Timberwolves are already missing Karl-Anthony Towns, but they might also be without D’Angelo Russell and Rudy Gobert, depending upon their availability come game time. Regardless, OKC needs a win, and I think they get it tonight and cover the small spread in the process.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC is Favorite Against Short-Handed Minnesota
The Timberwolves made a lot of moves in the offseason—like trading all kinds of assets to bring in Rudy Gobert—to try to put together a Western Conference contender, but they have not fared well, and are especially struggling now with Karl Anthony-Towns out for a while. This is the fourth meeting already this season between the two franchises, and a win for OKC would even up the season series.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #29 Preview: Minnesota Timberwolves
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is questionable to play in Minnesota, which is likely why the spread moved from the Wolves by 5 to the Wolves by 6.5 Still, Minnesota is missing Karl Anthony-Towns, and I think OKC’s backcourt is good enough to keep them in this game, whether SGA plays or not. I expect a close one.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | Take OKC as Road Dogs in Minnesota
The Thunder and T-wolves have met twice this season, once in each location, and both games going to Minnesota. Both of those meetings were close matchups, and this one will be interesting considering the injuries that both teams are dealing with. If Shai is able to go for OKC, the Thunder will have a better chance at victory, obviously, but with Karl Anthony-Towns out for the Wolves, OKC’s defensive strategy becomes a little easier, perhaps.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #23 Preview: Minnesota Timberwolves
The Thunder is going to LIVE as an underdog this season, much like last season. Also like last season, I expect OKC to cover the spread far more often than they don’t, and while I believe Minnesota is eventually going to be a pretty solid team, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Thunder not only covered the spread tonight but won the game…IF Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (questionable; left hip contusion) plays.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Will Keep It Close in Home Opener
The Thunder did a remarkable job in the 2021-22 at covering on the road, doing so 66% of the time. It can be extremely difficult to judge just how good teams are at the beginning of a new season but a few things we know for sure: OKC is likely not in a rush to win this season, and Minnesota upgraded a bit when they traded for Rudy Gobert. Even so, I expect the Thunder to be able to keep this one to within single digits because of superior guard play.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | Can the Thunder Be Successful at Covering as Road Dogs?