OKC Thunder: 3 keys to bouncing back versus Wolves

The  OKC Thunder fought to the final buzzer on Friday in a match that was lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves on a D’Angelo Russell 3-pointer. Mark Daigneault only had the minimum of eight players available.

And, that octet included reserve players who haven’t played much this season or logged major minutes. That the group kept the game close and fought back in the final frame to erase a nine-point deficit was commendable.

Knowing they would be playing again 24 hours later it would’ve been easy to shut things down early or check out mentally but that’s not how this Thunder team rolls.

For those interested in more details on the game check out the game grades by Ryan Lewis and three takeaways from yours truly.

Three keys to OKC Thunder match versus the Timberwolves

Although teams frequently play back-to-back sets or home and home sets, this season a new twist is clubs are playing consecutive games at the same venue. It’s meant to limit travel during the pandemic but it also affords some side benefits.

For teams or young players who haven’t experienced the postseason, it gives them a bit of insight into how a  playoff series functions. No, it’s not the same intensity but the coaching staff and players get to review the film and make adjustments just like they would in a series.

It’s a great way to prepare the youngsters for what to expect when the Thunder eventually returns to postseason play.

With that let’s dive into a few things the club should highlight heading into game two.