Minnesota faces Oklahoma City, seeks 6th straight win

Updated Mar. 9, 2022 3:02 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Oklahoma City Thunder (20-45, 14th in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (37-29, seventh in the Western Conference)

Minneapolis; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EST

LINE: Timberwolves -14

BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota will try to continue its five-game win streak with a victory against Oklahoma City.

The Timberwolves are 10-4 against division opponents. Minnesota is seventh in the league with 25.5 assists per game led by D'Angelo Russell averaging 7.0.

The Thunder are 4-7 against the rest of the division. Oklahoma City ranks sixth in the NBA with 35.5 defensive rebounds per game led by Josh Giddey averaging 6.0.

The teams meet for the fourth time this season. In the last matchup on March 5 the Timberwolves won 138-101 led by 20 points from Karl-Anthony Towns, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points for the Thunder.

TOP PERFORMERS: Malik Beasley averages 3.0 made 3-pointers per game for the Timberwolves, scoring 12.3 points while shooting 36.9% from beyond the arc. Towns is averaging 24.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists over the last 10 games for Minnesota.

Giddey is averaging 12.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists for the Thunder. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 33.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 2.1 steals over the past 10 games for Oklahoma City.

LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 8-2, averaging 122.0 points, 44.4 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 9.3 steals and 6.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.9 points per game.

Thunder: 3-7, averaging 111.5 points, 44.5 rebounds, 23.7 assists, 9.3 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.6 points.

INJURIES: Timberwolves: Jarred Vanderbilt: day to day (quad), Taurean Prince: day to day (back), McKinley Wright IV: out (arm), Patrick Beverley: day to day (ankle), Jaylen Nowell: day to day (nasal contusion), D'Angelo Russell: day to day (hamstring), Anthony Edwards: day to day (knee).

Thunder: Josh Giddey: out (hip), Ty Jerome: out (hip), Kenrich Williams: out (knee), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl: out (foot), Derrick Favors: out (back), Mike Muscala: out (ankle), Luguentz Dort: out for season (shoulder).

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