The Timberwolves will look to right the ship at home against the team they beat that inspired so much excitement just a few days ago. But will the Thunder come out with a vengeance from last Sunday’s defeat in Oklahoma City?
The start of a rivalry between these two Northwest Division opponents lived up to the hype in Game 1 of the season between the two games. Both the Timberwolves and the Thunder traded blows throughout the entire game, with the Wolves getting the last laugh at the buzzer.
In case you somehow haven’t seen the highlight from this past week, this is Andrew Wiggins giving Minnesota their second victory of the season nearly a week ago.
Based on what has transpired the last few days, this mountain-top moment seems all the more distant.
The tide certainly has turned for the Timberwolves since their thrilling victory at the buzzer last Sunday. What was seemingly the start of a magical season has turned somewhat bleak.
Minnesota has lost — and lost badly — in back-to-back games to (at best) fringe playoff Eastern Conference opponents. The defense, especially, has been a disaster.
Now, it’s not all bad news. The Wolves should get Jimmy Butler back, after he missed the past two games with an illness. His presence alone should improve the Timberwolves defensive effectiveness.
The Thunder will look to start their first winning streak of the season after their 2-2 start; Minnesota isn’t the only team with extremely high expectations from their fanbase this season.
Let’s take a closer look at this second clash between division rivals.