There’s good news from the Timberwolves' 130-123 home loss to Oklahoma City on Sunday night at Target Center: They get another chance tomorrow night.
Wolves fall 130-123 to West-leading Thunder, who get hot in fourth quarter from deep
Oklahoma City used a string of three-pointers in the final quarter to pull ahead for good and avenge a Feb. 13 loss at Minnesota.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
February 24, 2025 at 7:38AM
The Wolves boarded a plane after midnight and flew 700 miles south, to where they will do it all over again Monday night against the Thunder, the Western Conference’s runaway leaders. They play consecutive games at the L.A. Lakers and Utah on Thursday and Friday, too.
“Two back-to-backs in one week, against good teams, is crazy,” Wolves big man Naz Reid said. “I know I was built for it. A lot of our guys are built for it. You can’t overreact. We’ve got to out there and compete. You can’t just roll over.”
The Wolves, who beat Oklahoma City at home on Jan. 13 in their last game before the All-Star break, returned from the weeklong break with a loss at Houston on Friday. The Thunder won at Utah that same night.
Sunday, the Wolves fell behind by 19 points in the second quarter only to take a 63-61 lead into the break, as they outscored Oklahoma City 40-26 in the quarter.
The Thunder then took a seven-point lead after three quarters, and after a Nickeil Alexander-Walker run of 11 unanswered points gave the Wolves a five-point lead in the fourth, Oklahoma City took control of the game with an 18-2 run, taking a 123-112 lead with 4:13 to play.
The Thunder shot 7-for-11 from three-point range in the fourth quarter, with three by veteran guard Alex Caruso. They made 19 threes in all on 35 attempts (54.3%). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 37 points to go with eight rebounds and eight assists.
Anthony Edwards scored 29 points to lead the Wolves, while Naz Reid had 22, Alexander-Walker 18 and Jaden McDaniels 17. The Wolves shot 18-for-45 (40%) on threes and also made 27 of 28 free throws.
Emergency starter Jaylen Clark tried to keep the Wolves apace by defending all over the court and scoring 14 points on 6-for-7 shooting in 18 minutes before he was hit in the head and left the game midway through the third quarter. He went 2-for-2 on threes. Clark was called upon because regular starters Julius Randle (groin), Rudy Gobert (back spasms) and Donte DiVincenzo (toe) all were out injured.
Afterward, Clark walked through the Wolves locker room telling teammates and team employees, “I’m good, I’m solid” as he prepared to head for the airport.
“He’s not afraid,” Reid said. “You can see it in the way he drives to the rim. He’s confident in his game and that’s the first thing you need, confidence. Never let that go away.”
When asked if he likes playing Oklahoma City three games out of four, Reid said: “Not really, but it’s what we got to do. That’s what the schedule calls for, right? That’s what we’re going to go out there and do. I’m not going to shy away from no contest, no matter who we’re playing. I’m not worried one bit.”
Reid compared the schedule similar to the playoffs.
“It is, you kind of have to think of it as a mini-series,” Reid said. “I think the third quarter is where we have to be the best version of ourselves.”
The Wolves have the late-night plane ride and all day Monday analyzing and adjusting how to get better.
“It’s another opportunity,” Alexander-Walker said. “As a competitor, you want that. You want guys watching film on the plane. I’m going to see where I could have been better and I’ll have the opportunity to apply that. That’s the beauty of the NBA. Basketball is all we do. I get a chance to right my wrongs, in a sense, and be prepared to get a win tomorrow.”
Oklahoma City used a string of three-pointers in the final quarter to pull ahead for good Sunday night and avenge a Feb. 13 loss at Minnesota.
