Player Grades: OKC Thunder earn third straight win topping Timberwolves 132-126
By Rylan Stiles
Fast start helps OKC Thunder down Wolves in much needed game. Player grades offer the details and highlights from this important victory.
OKC Thunder gets their third straight win as Russell Westbrook notched another triple-double.
86. Final. 132. 149. 126
The OKC Thunder needed a win today against a team that has had their number all season long, in fact, against a team that they have not beaten all season long. They needed it on the road, and they needed it against a non-playoff team. Oh yeah, and on a Sunday afternoon on national television.
All signs pointed to a letdown game with this current OKC Thunder team.
That was not the case. The OKC Thunder actually started extremely fast in this game, jumping out to a solid start and causing the Timberwolves to burn a timeout about three minutes into the contest.
The bench mob would eventually blow a lead built up by the OKC regulars, but the team was able to gain control again. The Thunder showed resilience, and most importantly, a return to their old defensive prowess to start this game.
The Thunder shot 54 percent from the floor, 43 percent from three, and get this…brace yourself…84 percent from the free throw line…84 percent!
The Thunder dominated the glass, while the two teams were even in the turnover column.
Big days from Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Dennis Schroder, and the OKC starting five was the story of this game.