Minnesota Timberwolves game preview: Oct. 22 at Oklahoma City Thunder

SHENZHEN, CHINA - OCTOBER 05: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Universidade Center on October 5, 2017 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
SHENZHEN, CHINA - OCTOBER 05: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Universidade Center on October 5, 2017 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
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(Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)
(Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)

Coming off their first win of the season, the Minnesota Timberwolves will get another taste of a division rival this season, one with whom they surely will be jostling for playoff position throughout the year.

While the first two games of the season were intriguing, neither the Utah Jazz or the Kawhi-less San Antonio Spurs tested the Minnesota Timberwolves like the Oklahoma City Thunder will Sunday night.

Oklahoma City revamped their roster over the offseason to bring MVP Russell Westbrook some help.  All-Star forwards Paul George and Carmelo Anthony are in town, giving the Thunder a three-headed monster offensively.  The trio combined for 71 points in the Thunder’s opening game of the season against New York, a twenty point victory.

The Wolves have looked less than sharp to start the season, dropping a likely winnable game to San Antonio and nearly losing to Utah on Friday night.  It’ll be interesting to see if they play up to the level of their better opponent or continue to grind.

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Every game against teams like Oklahoma City could have huge importance come the end of the season.  Many analysts went back and forth all summer on whether OKC or Minny would finish as a higher seed in the West.  However, since the Carmelo trade, nearly all have proclaimed the Thunder as the clear favorite.

This is a huge chance for the Wolves to make an early statement in the Western Conference and to all their doubters.  Let’s take a closer look at the game and see how the Timberwolves stack up against the Thunder!