It’s another do-or-die game for the Oklahoma City Thunder as they travel to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves for the eighth seed.
After eliminating the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, the Thunder will need to collect a second consecutive road win if they’re going to clinch a playoff spot.
The winner will advance to play the top-seeded Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. In the regular season, the Thunder went 1-3 against the Timberwolves with the caveat that all four games were played before the end of December.
With the sports world focusing around the play-in tournament tonight, let’s see what our panel of NBA Wire writers think will transpire between the Thunder and Timberwolves.
Justin Quinn, Celtics Wire:
The T-Wolves may well be a bona fide playoff team sooner than most think, but we have seen what Rudy Gobert team drama can do to a ball club before, and at this point, the front office — and likely team as well — may be more focused on that future than the game in front of them. On the other side of the court, OKC’s energy and focus is among the best of noncontending teams, so I don’t expect less than a blowout on the Thunder’s part.
Prediction: Thunder 121, Timberwolves 98
Cameron Tabatabaie, USAT SMG:
The Thunder have all of the momentum and hunger right now. They’ve shown they have the talent and depth to win on any given night, and this core seems eager to get into the postseason. Minnesota, meanwhile, is reeling from a dramatic and disastrous few weeks. The return of Rudy Gobert should help the T-Wolves tighten their game defensively, but I’m taking the hot hand and the good vibes here.
Prediction: Thunder 110, Timberwolves 104
Ky Carlin, Sixers Wire:
The Thunder have the momentum now. After picking up an impressive win in New Orleans, they must do it again in Minnesota. They have the pieces to do it. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a legitimate star in this league who can throw the Thunder on his back when the time calls. This will be another big step in his development when he leads Oklahoma City to this win.
Prediction: Thunder 117, Timberwolves 111
Clemente Almanza, Thunder Wire:
Just like their Pelicans matchup, the Thunder went 1-3 against the Timberwolves in four regular-season games, but it’s uncertain how relevant that data is considering all were played before the end of December.
The Thunder have the momentum after the youngest team in the league looked like a group of vets in their close road win over the Pelicans.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves are a hot mess. Rudy Gobert’s availability is unknown after he served a suspension for punching teammate Kyle Anderson in their regular-season finale.
Because of that, I’ll go with OKC in this one. They win two consecutive road games to earn the eighth seed and playoff berth.
Prediction: Thunder 126, Timberwolves 121
