Thunder Gameday: Oklahoma City to Take on Minnesota in Top-Three Western Conference Matchup
Following a nine-point loss two nights prior, the Oklahoma City Thunder will remain at home and face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.
This marks the fourth contest of a five-game home stretch for the Thunder, and also counts the team's 12th consecutive in-conference matchup.
Tuesday night's competition will be Minnesota and Oklahoma City's second of their four meetings on the season. The Timberwolves took the first one back in late November, claiming a three-point win despite a 32-point effort from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Since 2020, Minnesota owns the series 9-3, with an all-out series sweep two years ago.
With the Timberwolves sitting atop the West and the Thunder two spots behind, this matchup is a key one to focus on throughout the course of the season.
ODDS:
The Thunder enter the day as four-point favorites against the Timberwolves, and the total over/under is 225.5 points.
KEYS TO THE GAME:
Last meeting between the two, offensive rebounding severely limited Oklahoma City, and was ultimately the reason for the team's loss.
The Thunder has not been a great rebounding team by any means this season — sitting at No. 26 in rebounds per game — granted, the team is in the middle of the pack on the defensive boards.
But among Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid and Karl-Anthony Towns, their 33 combined rebounds hindered Oklahoma City's stamina defensively and allowed little room for misses offensively.
The Timberwolves' 10 offensive rebounds hurt the Thunder badly in particular, as it led to 19 extra points en route to its' previous 106-103 win.
But as of now, Towns is listed as questionable for Tuesday night's game, and eliminating his 22.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game could certainly be to the Thunder's advantage.
At the same time, Josh Giddey is still nursing an ankle injury from last Thursday's win over the L.A. Clippers, and is listed as questionable himself.
Pending his return, Cason Wallace would like to have a bigger offensive impact compared to last time the two teams met, and Isaiah Joe would also benefit from a few more threes falling against Minnesota.
RECORDS:
Oklahoma City Thunder (18-9) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (22-6)
INJURIES:
Check out our live injury tracker, along with our game day injury report that will release later today.
WHEN:
Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023 at 7 PM CT
LOCATION:
Paycom Center - Oklahoma City, OK
TV/RADIO:
Bally Sports Oklahoma, NBA League Pass, 98.1 FM The Sports Animal
FINAL WORD:
It'll have to be a concerted effort from each piece within the Thunder's game plan in order to defeat the Timberwolves on Tuesday night.
But behind Loud City and Paycom Center, the home court advantage could see Oklahoma City take the game and get the better of the No. 1 team in the West.
Next, the Thunder will face the New York Knicks at 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday inside Paycom Center — ending the team's home stand as the second game of a back-to-back.
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