Oklahoma City takes on Minnesota for conference battle

Updated Mar. 22, 2021 3:22 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Oklahoma City Thunder (18-24, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (10-32, 15th in the Western Conference)

Minneapolis; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Oklahoma City plays Minnesota in Western Conference action Monday.

The Timberwolves are 3-5 against opponents in the Northwest Division. Minnesota ranks fifth in the Western Conference with 10.4 offensive rebounds per game led by Karl-Anthony Towns averaging 2.6.

The Thunder are 2-6 against the rest of their division. Oklahoma City ranks ninth in the Western Conference giving up just 112.2 points while holding opponents to 46.6% shooting.

The teams meet for the third time this season. The Thunder won 120-118 in the last matchup on Feb. 6. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 31 points, and Naz Reid led Minnesota with 29 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Anthony Edwards ranks second on the Timberwolves averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers, and is scoring 16.7 points per game while shooting 31.9% from beyond the arc. Towns is averaging 9.4 rebounds and 24.1 points per game over the last 10 games for Minnesota.

Al Horford is second on the Thunder averaging 14.3 points and is adding 6.7 rebounds. Theo Maledon is averaging 4.6 assists and 8.3 points over the last 10 games for Oklahoma City.

LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 3-7, averaging 115.4 points, 43 rebounds, 24.4 assists, 9.6 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.5 points on 50.1% shooting.

Thunder: 5-5, averaging 104.9 points, 44 rebounds, 21.7 assists, 6.2 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.4 points on 48.2% shooting.

INJURIES: Timberwolves: Jordan McLaughlin: out (health and safety protocols), Jarrett Culver: day to day (toe), D'Angelo Russell: out (leg).

Thunder: Josh Hall: day to day (knee), Darius Bazley: day to day (shoulder), George Hill: day to day (thumb), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: day to day (shoulder).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by