Thunder 101, Timberwolves 96
MINNEAPOLIS -- Russell Westbrook fell just short of another triple-double with 22 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, and the Oklahoma City Thunder held on late to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 101-96.
Forward Kevin Durant scored 28 points for Oklahoma City, including 12 in the fourth quarter as Minnesota tried to rally. Center Enes Kanter added 18 points off the bench for the Thunder, who have won three of their past four games.
Forward Andrew Wiggins scored 22 points for Minnesota, which has lost 11 of its past 12 games. Guard Zach LaVine had 21 points and forward Shabazz Muhammad added 20 points in reserve roles for the Timberwolves, who closed to within three in the final minute.
Minnesota had to fight its way back from a devastating beginning that saw Oklahoma City take a 15-2 lead at the start of the game.
Left to shoot long jump shots, Minnesota missed 11 of its first 13 shots and was eight of 21 in the first period.
The Timberwolves shot 44.4 percent for the game.
Westbrook took control on the offensive end, scoring 12 points in the first. The explosive guard nearly recorded his fourth triple-double of the season.
Keyed by Wiggins, who missed six of his first seven shots in the game, Minnesota used a 19-8 run over the third and fourth quarters to get within range of the Thunder. Wiggins scored five points in the fourth and brought the Timberwolves within three at 89-86 with a dunk in traffic.
But Durant calmly hit a jump shot on the other end to push the lead back to five points. Each time, Minnesota threatened, Durant would answer with a big jump shot on the other side.
Rookie center Karl-Anthony Towns finished with his 18th double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
NOTES: C Nikola Pekovic was a healthy inactive for Minnesota as he returns from surgery on his right Achilles tendon. The night off was rest for Pekovic, who has played in the past three games. Pekovic is expected to play the second game of the back-to-back at Houston, with F Kevin Garnett likely getting the night off. ... Oklahoma City has three players currently in the top 10 in the NBA in player efficiency rating with a minimum of 200 minutes played. G Russell Westbrook is second with a career-high 29.8 efficiency rating. F Kevin Durant is third at 28.3 and C Enes Kanter is ninth with a career-best 23.7 rating. ... Durant has scored at least 20 points in the past 24 games, the longest current streak in the NBA, since returning from a hamstring injury. ... Since beginning the season 8-8, Minnesota is 4-19.