OKC Thunder: Grades feature Muscala, SGA strong effort in win vs. Wolves
The OKC Thunder took on the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second night of a back-to-back looking for revenge. Before tonight the Thunder were 3-1 in the second game against a team who had beat them in a previous matchup this season,
True to form the Thunder came out strong in the first, opening up a 10-0 lead in the first few minutes. They turned defense into offense and every player who hit the court in the first looked highly energized. They had ten points off turnovers and finished the quarter with a 43-24 lead.
The second quarter belonged to Mike Muscala. While other players made shots, Muscala bullied the Timberwolves for 22 points and did not miss in the period. He normally is a sniper from deep but only took two, which he made.
It was a luxury to keep the starters off the floor for most of the second thanks to his offensive outburst. The half ended with an 82-62 advantage for the Thunder.
Grades detail how OKC Thunder outlast Wolves second-half punch
86. 120. 149. Final. 118
The Timberwolves came out in the third period with Naz Reid scoring nine points before the Thunder scored.
OKC trimmed the lead down to seven before Muscala entered the fray to put a body on the Minnesota big man. The impact was to slow down the Timberwolves’ offense before SGA took over again, helped by Hamidou Diallo‘s back-to-back steals. The Thunder led at the final break 96-94
The fourth did not start any better for the Thunder, losing the lead before SGA came to the fore and just willed the Thunder to the win. He was in everything at the end, including two massive defensive plays on Naz Reid.