Thunder vs Timberwolves: Pregame Primer

vs.

Timberwolves (7-36, 4-18 road) vs. Thunder (22-22, 12-7 home)

TV: FS Oklahoma/NBA TV
Stream:  Click here
Radio:  WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 1300 AM The Buzz Tulsa)
Time: 7:00 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 104.7 (18th), Wolves – 102.1 (24th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.6 (10th), Wolves – 112.5 (30th)

It’s back to the Peake tonight for Oklahoma City after going 3-2 on a tough road trip. Wins at Orlando, Miami and Washington feel a little differently after consecutive losses at Atlanta and Cleveland. At 22-22 the Thunder has two golden opportunities to build on the good, and fix the not so good with games against the last place teams in both the Eastern and Western conferences.

The Timberwolves come in at 7-36, and have lost nine games in a row in Oklahoma City and four overall in this series.

3 Big Things

1. KD Out. Durant is inactive tonight due to a left big toe sprain suffered yesterday against Cleveland, per Royce. Durant is day-t0-day. With KD out Russell Westbrook will be doing the heavy lifting. In last month’s game in Minnesota Westbrook exploded for 34 points, six assists and six rebounds in a 19-point Thunder win.

2. The Bigs. Steven Adams didn’t start yesterday due to what can only be perceived as the worst migraine in human history. He never appeared on the bench, but is expected to make the start tonight, per Scott Brooks. He’ll face Nikola Pekovic who will make his second start after coming off the bench for two games following an extended absence due to a wrist injury.

Pekovic has averaged 22.5 ppg and 11.5 rpg in his last four games against the Thunder giving Adams a real test down low. Adams has done a good job of staying on his feet against opponents that deploy moves against him in the post – see Christmas Day against Tim Duncan. More of that please.

Serge Ibaka for the second straight game shot poorly from the field and was not a factor defensively – particularly in the second half against Cleveland. With Durant out Ibaka will have to be sharp, and provide a scoring punch along side Westbrook.

3. 3-Point Shooting. The Thunder currently has one player shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc – Serge Ibaka. Durant is at 39, Morrow at 37. Only three players that get regular minutes for this team shoots over 30 percent. Dion Waiters (25.8 percent) and Russell Westbrook (26.5) are much closer to Andre Roberson’s 21.3 percent than Jeremy Lamb’s 35 percent.

That’s a lot of numbers, but all that to say, a real need for this team remains good outside shooting as it ranks 27th in three-point shooting percentage. Yesterday Dion Waiters went 2-7 with most of them wide open, while Anthony Morrow took two, and made one. The sads, I have them.

Sunday’s COTN: “Jackson talking about Golden State is so awkward, sounds like he’s talking about an ex.” – @mattchant

you could smell the #hatehard through the television.

Tip at 7:00 CT. Go Russ and friends.