The Northwest’s top team will be on the road when the Oklahoma City Thunder (34-13) head to the Target Center to face off against the division rival Minnesota Timberwolves (14-32). Action begins at 8:00 pm ET on Wednesday, Jan. 27 and can be seen on FxK, FNo and C+D.
The Timberwolves are hoping for a better outcome after their 114-107 loss to the Cavaliers on Monday. Despite the loss, Karl-Anthony Towns earned his 22nd double-double this season with 26 points and 11 rebounds. The Thunder, meanwhile, are coming off a 128-122 win against the Knicks on Tuesday. Kevin Durant claimed his 15th double-double of the season with 44 points and 14 rebounds.
Towns and Andrew Wiggins have been better than usual over the last five games for the Timberwolves. During that stretch, Towns has averaged 20.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.0 steal, 2.4 blocks, and 0.6 three-pointers, while Wiggins has recorded 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 steal, and 0.6 blocks a game.
The Thunder have emerged victorious in both games against the Timberwolves this year, including a decisive 113-93 victory in their last matchup. Durant had a standout performance in the victory, putting up 21 points, six rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and one three-pointer.
The Thunder are favored by nine points over Minnesota and the Over/Under (O/U) is sitting at 210 points. The Timberwolves have gone 14-32 Straight Up (SU) and 19-26-1 Against The Spread (ATS). They are 2-7 SU and 3-6 ATS against divisional opponents. The Timberwolves have made 974 free throws this season (21.0 per game), which leads the league.
Over on the other bench, the Thunder have a record of 19-28 ATS and 34-13 SU. Despite having a winning record against its own division, Oklahoma City is unsuccessful ATS in those games with a record of 2-3. Offensively, they average 109.0 points per game, which is good for second in the league. The Thunder have controlled the glass with an average of 47.5 rebounds per game, second in the league. Shifting to the other side of the court, blocking shots is an area where Oklahoma City has excelled. The Thunder average 6.3 blocks per game, making them one of the best in the league.
Oklahoma City beat Minnesota in their most recent meeting this season, bumping its SU record over the last 10 meetings to 9-1. Furthermore, the Thunder hold the advantage ATS with a record of 6-4.
Predictions: SU Winner – OKC, ATS Winner – OKC, O/U – Under
Notes
Minnesota is 2-12 SU in its last 14 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Minnesota’s last 11 games at home.
Minnesota is 7-18 SU in its last 25 games at home.
Minnesota is 6-18-1 ATS in its last 25 games at home.
Minnesota is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Oklahoma City.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota’s last 6 games when playing Oklahoma City.
Minnesota is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Oklahoma City.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota’s last 7 games when playing at home against Oklahoma City.
Minnesota is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Minnesota.
Minnesota ranks 22nd in points per game with 99.2, while Oklahoma City ranks 13th in points allowed with an average of 100.9 given up.
On average, Minnesota puts up 97.5 points per home game (ranked 27th), while Oklahoma City allows 104.4 points per away game (ranked 22nd).
In games where they allow fewer than 100 points, the Minnesota Timberwolves are a solid 10-6. In games where they fail to hit triple digits, the Oklahoma City Thunder have an underachieving record of 3-6.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have a subpar 4-26 record in games where they have allowed at least 100 points. The Oklahoma City Thunder are 31-7 when they hit triple digits.
The Timberwolves have an offensive rating of 102.0 (ranked 23rd). The Thunder rank 10th for their defensive rating of 101.4.
Oklahoma City beats Minnesota in both possessions per game and points per possession. The Thunder average 99.2 possessions and 1.099 points per possession, while the Timberwolves average 97.3 possessions with 1.020 points per possession.
Oklahoma City has an average effective field goal percentage of 52.0% (ranked third in the league}. Minnesota is an abysmal 3-18 when opponents have a similar or higher effective field goal percentage.
The Minnesota Timberwolves average 15.0 three point attempts per game, and the Oklahoma City Thunder attempt 22.0 per game. When going for at least 25 three pointers in a game this season, Minnesota is a perfect 1-0, while Oklahoma City also has a winning record (8-4).
Minnesota has an assist to turnover ratio of 1.51 this season (ranked 18th), while Oklahoma City ranks lower at 22nd with an A/TO of 1.47.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the best rebounding teams in the league, earning 47.5 rebounds per game (ranked second). The Minnesota Timberwolves rank 24th, rebounding 42.2 times each contest.
Minnesota is ranked 23rd in defensive rebounds, while Oklahoma City ranks second in offensive rebounds.
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ opponents have had an average turnover percentage of 14.7% this season. The Oklahoma City Thunder have a superb 19-6 record when their TOV% is 14.7% or higher.
