Since he came to the Timberwolves in February, guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has stayed in a hotel, the same hotel that was set to house the Thunder on their visit to Minneapolis for Friday's play-in game.
That meant Alexander-Walker didn't have to do much planning in order to catch up with his cousin, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The two Canadians grew up in Ontario about 40 minutes from each other, and were close throughout their childhood. Gilgeous-Alexander's father, Vaughn, is the brother of Alexander-Walker's mother, Nicole.
Growing up, they had a shared dream of making the NBA; now on Friday they were set to face each other with a playoff berth on the line.
"Obviously the stakes are high. Win or go home. This is like bragging rights for the whole summer," Alexander-Walker said. "Just kind of sticking to the game plan, and more focusing on the win than the competition. Not letting the rivalry or the pride get the best of me and take me out of the game."
Alexander-Walker started Friday's game for the Timberwolves, presumably to guard his cousin.
Alexander-Walker and Gilgeous-Alexander hadn't faced each other this season. Before Alexander-Walker came to the Wolves, his former team, Utah, hadn't played the Thunder. The Wolves had already faced the Thunder in all their matchups for the season by the time the Jazz traded Alexander-Walker to Minnesota.
Alexander-Walker said he had been looking forward to facing his cousin and was glad he got the chance to do it in such a big game.