Timberwolves at Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder carry a four-game winning streak into Sunday's meeting with the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves, a run that has taken them to the top of the Western Conference. Oklahoma City shares the lead with Denver and Golden State after posting a 107-106 victory at Utah on Saturday that was powered by Paul George's second straight 43-point performance.
Minnesota has lost five straight road games after Friday's 124-98 setback at San Antonio and is an NBA-worst 2-13 away from home this season - 0-12 versus the Western Conference. Derrick Rose (18.5 points per game) left Friday's contest because of a sore left ankle and is listed as day-to-day. “It’s nothing serious,” Rose, who cautiously skipped Friday morning's shootaround but tried to play anyway, told reporters. “I don’t got to get surgery. That’s the only thing. Everything else I can manage, but I think I did a bad job listening to my body and managing my body." Minnesota won three of the four meetings last season - including a 115-113 victory at Oklahoma City on a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Andrew Wiggins, who averaged 20.8 points versus the Thunder in 2017-18.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Oklahoma (Oklahoma City)
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (14-18): With Rose out of the lineup, Jerryd Bayless made his club debut on Friday while backing up Tyus Jones, recording seven points and three assists in 12 minutes after recovering from a knee injury. "Under the circumstance, it stinks, but I felt great,” Bayless, who was acquired in the deal for Jimmy Butler, told reporters. “I’m just happy I can be out there and play. That was fun. … I know what I’m still capable of. I just need opportunity. For that first step, just to be able to get out there, and I’m happy about that, really happy." Karl-Anthony Towns (team highs of 21 points, 11.6 rebounds), who is 21 points shy of 6,000, has registered 19 double-doubles but hasn't recorded one in the last two games and hasn't gone three straight since the opening contests of the season.
ABOUT THE THUNDER (21-10): George also recorded 14 rebounds, six assists and five steals versus Utah while raising his team-high scoring average to 26.1 points with 175 in his last five contests. Russell Westbrook (20.1 points, team highs of 10.8 rebounds and 10.3 assists) missed his third consecutive triple-double Saturday by one bucket and one assist, while the streak could be five in a row if not for a nine-rebound effort versus the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 15. Steven Adams recorded his 14th double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds versus Utah and averages 16.2 and 10.2.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Minnesota G Jeff Teague (11.6 points, team-high 8.3 assists) will miss his fourth straight game because of a left ankle injury.
2. Oklahoma City G Dennis Schroder (16.4 points) returned from a one-game suspension for his role in Monday's altercation against the Bulls in Chicago and scored 11 points while G Raymond Felton, who received the same ban, did not play Saturday.
3. Timberwolves opponents are shooting 51.9 percent in the paint over the last 19 games compared to 56.7 in the first 13 contests this season.