Thunder at Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves look to defeat Oklahoma City for the third straight time this season when they host the Thunder on Tuesday. Small forward Andrew Wiggins averaged 35 points as the Timberwolves notched a pair of two-point victories at Oklahoma City earlier in the campaign.
The Thunder snapped a four-game losing streak - which matched a season high - by rallying from a 13-point deficit to record a 99-95 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Oklahoma City has struggled without All-Star forward Paul George (shoulder) and whether or not he misses a fourth straight game will likely be determined on Tuesday. Minnesota has dropped three straight games after suffering a 135-121 road loss on Sunday against the Washington Wizards. "We missed a lot of coverages, especially in the second half," Timberwolves interim coach Ryan Saunders told reporters. "It's harder to win on the road in the NBA when your defensive intensity is not there, and it hasn't been there for these three games here."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Oklahoma, FS North (Minnesota)
ABOUT THE THUNDER (39-24): Point guard Russell Westbrook was just 7-of-20 shooting but scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter in the comeback win over the Grizzlies. Oklahoma City failed to reach 100 points for the first time since Jan. 6 as the offensive attack didn't have its typical flow without George and his 28.6 points per game average. "With Paul out, certainly offensively, it's been a challenge the last several games," Thunder coach Billy Donovan said afterward. "I've been trying to find a way to keep helping our guys offensively in order to create an identity with him being out."
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (29-34): Wiggins scored a season-high 40 points in the second meeting against Oklahoma City on Jan. 8 and poured in 30 in the first encounter on Dec. 23, including the go-ahead layup with 14.3 seconds left. He hasn't been real sharp over Minnesota's past six games as he is averaging 14.8 points on 34-of-86 shooting and has topped 20 just once during the stretch. All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns had 28 points in the loss to Washington after scoring over 30 in each of the previous three games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Timberwolves have won five of the past six meetings.
2. Oklahoma City C Steven Adams collected 22 rebounds - one shy of his career high - against the Grizzlies.
3. Minnesota SF Luol Deng (Achilles) could miss his third straight game.