Thunder at Timberwolves: Pregame Primer

vs.

OKC Thunder (43-16, 18-10 road) at Minnesota Timberwolves (25-35, 13-16 home)

TV: FS OK (Cox 37, HD 722, Tulsa Cox 27, DirectTV 679, UVerse 754)
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 7:00 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 109.9 (1st), Wolves– 104.8 (15th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 102.8 (10th), Wolves – 106.4 (22nd)
Pace: Thunder – 93.0 (6th), Wolves – 93.2 (5th)

View from the enemy: A Wolf Among Wolves

The Wolves have dropped eight straight. They’re without Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio and maybe not Nikola Pekovic. They’re not playing well, don’t have much to play for anyway and are really just looking forward to the offseason. So in other words, this is a scary game.

Minnesota coming in: Lost to the Clippers Thursday and again, have dropped eight straight.

Three Big Things

1. Snuff out the step up. If the Wolves are to keep it remotely close, it will be because someone has a random huge game. Candidates: Wes Johnson, Michael Beasley, J.J. Barea and Derrick Williams. Someone’s going to to give it a go. It’s about stopping it before it happens.

2. Starting on time. The Thunder essentially beat the Bucks with the opening six minutes. It was an impressive start for OKC and quickly put doubt in Milwaukee that it had any chance. Don’t give the Wolves a chance to believe.

3. Stay safe. That’s not for the Thunder, that’s for all you Oklahomans. Storms are coming, so be on the ball.

Tip at 7:00 CT. Go Thundering Thunder.