The Timberwolves were without Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, but Naz Reid feasted on the thin Thunder frontcourt with 28 points.
Meanwhile, the Thunder were led once again by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 35 points on 11-of-23 shooting, seven rebounds and five assists.
The loss was once again surrounded by referee controversy, who called a loose ball foul at the end on Eugene Omoruyi that eliminated any shot of a lucky turnover produced by chaos.
Here are the best photos from the Thunder’s two-point loss to the Timberwolves.
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) is defended by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Wendell Moore Jr. (7) during the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey (3) is defended by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Austin Rivers (25) during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Wendell Moore Jr. (7) works to control the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (1) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) during the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson (5) during the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch gestures to his team on a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (1) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) during the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson (5) celebrates following a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives against Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) during the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes up for a a basket against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (1) during the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) is defended by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Austin Rivers (25) on a drive during the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA;Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (1) fight for a loose ball during the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder mascot, Rumble the Bison, drives around a fan during a time out against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) shoots against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Austin Rivers (25) during the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey (3) shoes during the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Austin Rivers (25) shoes during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Austin Rivers (25) reacts after an officials call against him following a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Austin Rivers (25) reacts after an officials call against him following a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Lindy Waters III (12) and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Nathan Knight (13) reach for a loose ball during the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (11) dunks over Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jaylen Nowell (4) during the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Austin Rivers (25) defends during the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) is defended by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Wendell Moore Jr. (7) during the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) grabs his wrist following a play against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) grabs his wrist following a play against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Aleksej Pokusevski (17) shoes during the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Paycom Center. Minnesota won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoes during the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Austin Rivers (25) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey (3) during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Austin Rivers (25) drives to the basket between Oklahoma City Thunder forward Aleksej Pokusevski (17) and guard Josh Giddey (3) during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) shoe during the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (1) shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Tre Mann (23) defends during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Aleksej Pokusevski (17) on a shot during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
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