Game ID: 22300599
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
MIN 24 30 29 14 97OKC 30 27 17 28 102
MIN vs OKC ScoutingMIN vs OKC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
MIN availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restBACK Milton back 1/03 after 3, 5 min since (36% of 13)
MIN availability going into 1/14 · 1 day's rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 1/17 · 2 days' rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 1/18 · back-to-back
full strength
MIN availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Milton missed 2 since 1/18, returns tonight: 15 min (115% of 13)
OUT Brown Jr. missed 2 since 1/18, out tonight
MIN availability going into 1/24 · 1 day's restOUT Brown Jr. missed 3 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Milton back 1/22 after 2, 15 min since (115% of 13)
MIN availability going into 1/25 · back-to-backOUT Conley missed 2 since 1/22, returns tonight: 33 min (111% of 29)
OUT Brown Jr. missed 4 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Milton back 1/22 after 2, 17 min since (129% of 13)
MIN availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Brown Jr. missed 5 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Conley back 1/25 after 2, 33 min since (111% of 29)
BACK Milton back 1/22 after 2, 17 min since (129% of 13)
OKC availability going into 1/13 · 1 day's restBACK Dieng back 1/11 after 9, 23 min since (225% of 10)
OKC availability going into 1/15 · 1 day's restBACK Dieng back 1/11 after 9, 16 min since (154% of 10)
OKC availability going into 1/16 · back-to-backBACK Dieng back 1/11 after 9, 15 min since (144% of 10)
OKC availability going into 1/18 · 1 day's restBACK Dieng back 1/11 after 9, 12 min since (118% of 10)
OKC availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's restBACK Dieng back 1/11 after 9, 12 min since (118% of 10)
OKC availability going into 1/23 · 2 days' restOUT Dieng missed 2 since 1/18, out tonight
OKC availability going into 1/24 · back-to-backOUT Dieng missed 3 since 1/18, out tonight
OKC availability going into 1/26 · 1 day's restOUT Dieng missed 4 since 1/18, out tonight
OKC availability going into 1/28 · 1 day's restOUT Dieng missed 5 since 1/18, out tonight
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 52 percent and 44 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 25 and Towns at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 28 and Jal. Williams at 23 a game. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 44 percent from three to OKC's 36. Call it Minnesota 115, OKC 114, OKC keeping it close.
1/12 vs POR 116-93 — MIN notes
MIN won 116-93. MIN shot 55% (44 of 80) to POR's 39%, 11 of 31 from three, and got to the line 24 times to POR's 34. Gobert led with 24 (9 of 11, 6 of 8 at the line); Towns added 23, Reid 14. The hinge was Q1, 36-15: from level to 21 ahead, and the lead reached 36. Edwards was the night's best plus/minus at +41.
1/14 vs LAC 109-105 — MIN notes
MIN won 109-105. MIN shot 57% (38 of 67) to LAC's 43%, 13 of 26 from three, and went to the line 31 times to LAC's 18 — 20 points from the stripe to their 16. MIN turned it over 17 times to LAC's 11, and LAC turned those into 9 steals. Edwards led with 33 (10 of 16, 2 of 4 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Towns added 17, Gobert 15. The hinge was Q3, 35-23: a lead of 1 became 13, and the lead reached 17. Edwards was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
1/17 @ DET 124-117 — MIN notes
MIN won 124-117. MIN shot 51% (47 of 93) to DET's 52%, 15 of 30 from three. Edwards led with 27 (10 of 24, 3 of 8 from three); Towns added 27, McDaniels 23. The hinge was Q2, 31-22: MIN came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 8, and the lead reached 17. Conley was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
1/18 vs MEM 118-103 — MIN notes
MIN won 118-103. MIN shot 55% (45 of 82) to MEM's 46%, 12 of 28 from three. Edwards led with 28 (11 of 19, 1 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Reid added 20, Gobert 17. The hinge was Q4, 37-17: MIN came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 15. MIN trailed 50-55 at the half and won the second half 68-48. Gobert was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
1/20 vs OKC 97-102 — MIN notes
MIN lost 97-102. MIN shot 41% (31 of 75) to OKC's 40%, 14 of 37 from three, and got to the line 29 times to OKC's 35. MIN turned it over 21 times to OKC's 8, and OKC turned those into 12 steals. The glass went 50-37 for them. Edwards led with 19 (6 of 10, 1 of 3 from three, 6 of 10 at the line); Towns added 19, Reid 18. Q3 was theirs, 29-17, turning a 3-point deficit into a 9-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 85-68 against them. They led by as many as 12. Conley's -22 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/22 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 104, shooting 52 percent and 43 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 23 and Towns at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 118, shooting 42 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Ball at 26 and Rozier at 21 a game. Without Richards (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 104 a night to Charlotte's 118 and the arc, Minnesota at 43 percent from three to Charlotte's 34. Call it Minnesota 117, Charlotte 104, Minnesota by 13.
1/24 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Kuzma at 19 and Bagley III at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 25 free throws a game; Towns at 28 and Edwards at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-6 a night and Washington minus-6 and the arc, Minnesota at 44 percent from three to Washington's 36. Call it Minnesota 116, Washington 114, Washington keeping it close.
1/25 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 16 free throws a game; Bridges at 25 and Thomas at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Simmons (36 straight), Clowney (12 straight), Wilson (8 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Towns at 30 and Edwards at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Conley (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Brooklyn wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-4 a night and Brooklyn minus-5 and the line, where Minnesota takes 25 free throws a game to Brooklyn's 16. Call it Brooklyn 113, Minnesota 111, Minnesota keeping it close.
1/27 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 125, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 26 and Vassell at 19 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 107, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Towns at 30 and Edwards at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 107 a night to San Antonio's 125 and the arc, Minnesota at 40 percent from three to San Antonio's 35. Call it Minnesota 118, San Antonio 112.
1/13 vs ORL 112-100 — OKC notes
OKC won 112-100. OKC shot 46% (43 of 94) to ORL's 46%, 8 of 36 from three. OKC turned it over 8 times to ORL's 15. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 37 (13 of 20, 0 of 4 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Jal. Williams added 16, Holmgren 15. The hinge was Q2, 26-19: a lead of 2 became 9, and the lead reached 16. Giddey was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
1/15 @ LAL 105-112 — OKC notes
OKC lost 105-112. OKC took 12 more shots (96 to 84), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 42% to LAL's 52%, 15 of 49 from three, and got to the line just 11 times against 18 fouls committed. OKC turned it over 11 times to LAL's 17. Jal. Williams led with 25 (10 of 18, 2 of 4 from three); Gilgeous-Alexander added 24, Dort 11. Q2 was theirs, 24-23, the deficit cut from 1 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 89-81 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander's -12 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/16 @ LAC 117-128 — OKC notes
OKC lost 117-128. OKC shot 51% (42 of 83) to LAC's 54%, 16 of 34 from three. Jal. Williams led with 25 (10 of 14, 2 of 3 from three); Gilgeous-Alexander added 19, Dort 19. Q2 was theirs, 31-30, the deficit cut from 5 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 98-86 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander's -19 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/18 @ UTA 134-129 — OKC notes
OKC won 134-129. OKC shot 56% (48 of 86) to UTA's 48%, 14 of 32 from three, and got to the line 28 times to UTA's 36. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 31 (8 of 15, 15 of 17 at the line); Jal. Williams added 27, Giddey 20. The hinge was Q1, 39-27: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Jal. Williams was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
1/20 @ MIN 102-97 — OKC notes
OKC won 102-97. OKC shot 40% (32 of 81) to MIN's 41%, 8 of 24 from three, and went to the line 35 times to MIN's 29 — 30 points from the stripe to their 21. OKC turned it over 8 times to MIN's 21. The glass went 37-50 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 33 (10 of 22, 12 of 13 at the line); Jal. Williams added 20, Holmgren 15. The hinge was Q4, 28-14: OKC came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 5, and the lead reached 16.
1/23 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 29 and Jal. Williams at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Grant at 24 and Brogdon at 20 a game. Without Sharpe (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been minus-1 a night and OKC minus-5. Call it OKC 119, Portland 110.
1/24 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 28 and Vassell at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 28 and Jal. Williams at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 37 percent from three to San Antonio's 32 and the defense, OKC allowing 115 a night to San Antonio's 122. Call it OKC 118, San Antonio 116, San Antonio keeping it close.
1/26 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 118, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 28 free throws a game; McCollum at 23 and Williamson at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 25 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Jal. Williams at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-5 a night and OKC minus-2. Call it New Orleans 119, OKC 118, OKC keeping it close.
1/28 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Bogdanović at 24 and Ivey at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Wiseman (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 106, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Jal. Williams at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 106 a night to Detroit's 122 and the glass, where OKC has been minus-1 a night and Detroit minus-5. Call it OKC 121, Detroit 112.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
OKCAW A. Wiggins
CH C. Holmgren
CW C. Wallace
IJ I. Joe
JG J. Giddey
JW J. Williams
JW Jal. Williams
KW K. Williams
LD L. Dort
SG S. Gilgeous-Alexander
VM V. Micić
MINAE A. Edwards
JM J. McDaniels
JM J. McLaughlin
KA K. Anderson
KT K. Towns
MC M. Conley
NA N. Alexander-Walker
NR N. Reid
RG R. Gobert
OKC/MIN the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 33 points, Thunder beat Timberwolves 102-97 in West showdown
MINNEAPOLIS -- — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 11 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter and the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 102-97 on Saturday night in a matchup of the top teams in the Western Conference standings.
Jaylin Williams added 20 points for Oklahoma City, and Minnesota native Chet Holmgren had 15. The Thunder trailed by 11 early in the fourth before rallying to win for the second time in four games to pull within a game of Minnesota.
“We just had great resilience tonight," Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said. “It’s one thing to defend like that, but it’s another when you’re shooting the ball so poorly. We just had a really hard time cracking them. They played great defense in the second half.”
The Thunder shot just 39.5% from the field, but held the Timberwolves to 14 points in the fourth on 3-of-13 shooting.
Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns each had 19 points for Minnesota and Naz Reid added 18. The Timberwolves had won four in a row to regain the West’s No. 1 spot after losing four of six to drop behind Oklahoma City.
“It’s as simple as being better with the ball,” Towns said. “I thought we gave ourselves a chance at the end of the game, just didn’t find a way to win today. They hit some shots when they had to; shoutout to them, all respect to them. We’ve just got to figure it out next game.”
A season-long obstacle for Minnesota has been turnovers and that issue allowed the Thunder to stay close before the finishing flurry in which Oklahoma City outscored the Wolves 24-10 to end the game. Minnesota had 21 turnovers, leading to 28 points.
“We got to stop turning it over,” said Edwards, who had five turnovers. “I think it’s that simple. Myself, we’re playing in crowds. Sometimes it’s just a pass to the other team. Just got to cut back on them. We’ll be all right.”
Oklahoma City used a 19-7 run to tie it at 90 with 3:42 remaining. Gilgeous-Alexander hit a 3-pointer with 1:14 left to give the Thunder a 96-94 lead.
“He’s been in this position so many times now," Oklahoma City's Luguentz Dort said. "I’m not surprised when he takes those types of shots. He’s so much confident. He knows he can make those shots for the team, so we all have trust in him to take those type of shots for us and he knocked it down.”
Rudy Gobert hit one of two free throws to pull Minnesota within one, but Mike Conley’s 3 with 23.4 seconds remaining was off the mark and Williams made two free throws.
Reid scored on the other end, but Isaiah Joe hit two free throws to regain the three-point advantage. Edwards was fouled on a 3 with 3.4 seconds remaining but missed the first two free throws and intentionally missed the third and Oklahoma City got the rebound.
“I just thought our ability to defend, despite an imperfect night, showed great mental toughness by our team," Daigneault said.
Oklahoma City has won two of the three meetings this season between the two young teams, with Saturday marking the first road win between the two this season. The final matchup of the regular season is at Oklahoma City on Jan. 29.