Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder: Odds, injuries, what to watch for

On Saturday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves will try to win consecutive road games against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Friday night’s affair was a slog that saw the Wolves enter the fourth quarter up by nine points and hold a six-point lead with just over three minutes to play, but the Thunder tied the game late and Minnesota needed a game-winner from D’Angelo Russell to get the win.

However, they may be without Russell on Saturday, as he is listed as doubtful on the injury report with a lingering quadriceps issue.

Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder: Odds, injuries, what to watch for

The Wolves have played a bit better of late, going 2-2 over their last four games, and both losses featured the Wolves holding fourth-quarter leads before ultimately faltering during crunchtime.

It was just over two weeks ago that Russell missed three games with the quad issue, and the Wolves beat the New Orleans Pelicans at home with ease sans Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns. Of course, it helps that the third-string point guard, two-way guard Jordan McLaughlin, has arguably been the Wolves’ most consistent performer at the position.

For their part, the Thunder had only the minimum requirement of eight players for Friday’s game, with Lu Dort and Theo Maledon as late scratches. There’s a high likelihood that one or both may also miss Saturday’s game as well.

Minnesota Timberwolves odds at Oklahoma City Thunder

Then again, The Action Network has the Thunder favored by two points after the Wolves started Friday’s game in the same position. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is listed as doubtful, while the aforementioned Dort and Maledon are both questionable.

TV and streaming info for Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder

• Television: Fox Sports North
• Radio: 830 WCCO
• Stream: Fubo.tv offers streaming options

What to watch for in Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder

The Wolves struggled mightily in transition on Friday against the Thunder, and Oklahoma City held a halftime lead largely because of their inability to get back on defense.

But the Thunder didn’t have any point guards available, and while de facto point guard Hamidou Diallo had 10 assists to only two turnovers, the OKC offense didn’t exactly flow smoothly for much of the night.

The same could be said for the Wolves, however, who had their own offensive bugaboos. Minnesota shot under 40 percent in the first half but got hot at the end of the third quarter and created some separation, thanks largely to Russell and Jaylen Nowell‘s marksmanship.

The Thunder relied on Al Horford, who had a legitimate turn-back-the-clock night with 26 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, and a 3-for-6 shooting night from outside the arc.

If the Wolves are going to win with both Towns and Russell sidelined, they’ll need to do a better job holding Horford in check, and Ricky Rubio will have to show up. Also, Anthony Edwards has to improve on is 3-of-14 from the field against a depleted team, and the Wolves need to get to the free throw line more than nine times; they drew just seven total personal fouls on the Thunder in Friday’s game.

Thankfully, Nowell isn’t listed on the injury report despite leaving the game abruptly after tweaking his ankle late in the win over the Thunder. The Wolves will need his scoring and shooting off the bench, especially if D’Lo does not play.

Injury report for Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder

The Wolves are without Towns and Jarrett Culver, and Russell is listed as doubtful with his quad injury. Juancho Hernangomez is listed as questionable for the fourth consecutive game due to reconditioning following his time in the COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

The Thunder have Gilgeous-Alexander listed as doubtful while Dort and Maledon are both questionable.

We’ll have postgame player grades up following the game. Enjoy Saturday night basketball, and here’s to back-to-back wins!