Timberwolves-Thunder Preview

By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO
Posted Jan 09 2013 6:23PM

Kevin Durant thinks the Oklahoma City Thunder didn't take their last opponent seriously enough, resulting in a loss to the worst team in the NBA.

Their latest meeting with the Minnesota Timberwolves also ended in defeat.

Durant and the Thunder hope a brief stop home can help them regain their momentum and re-establish their dominance of the shorthanded Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

Oklahoma City (26-8) seemed to be in ideal position to win a third straight Monday, facing lowly Washington. However, the Thunder missed 16 straight shots at one point and were left with a stunning 101-99 loss after Bradley Beal hit a jumper with 0.3 seconds remaining.

"We let them stick around, because we're not taking them serious enough," said Durant, who had 29 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals. "We can't do that, man. We can't do that."

Durant and the Thunder aren't likely to overlook the Timberwolves (16-15) after a 99-93 loss at Minnesota on Dec. 20 ended their 12-game winning streak in the series.

Returning home should benefit the Thunder, who are 17-3 there. They've also won five in a row at Chesapeake Energy Arena against the Timberwolves, averaging 120.4 points on 52.9 percent from the floor.

Durant kept that streak going with 40 points and 17 rebounds in a 149-140, double-overtime win in the most recent matchup in Oklahoma City on March 23.

The venue hasn't really mattered for the superstar forward since he's averaging 35.2 points and 9.3 boards in the past nine overall meetings, including 33 points last month.

Russell Westbrook had 30 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in that game, giving him averages of 34.5 points and 7.3 assists over the last four matchups.

The All-Star guard wasn't nearly that productive Monday, going 4 for 17 from the field while finishing with 17 points and eight assists.

The Timberwolves are trying to win back-to-back games for the first time since a four-game winning streak from Dec. 7-15. They're 4-6 since, but coming off Tuesday's 108-103 win over Atlanta despite being without coach Rick Adelman (personal reasons) and star big man Kevin Love (broken right hand).

Love is expected to miss the next eight to 10 weeks after needing surgery, while Adelman will miss a second straight game.

Ricky Rubio is expected to play games on consecutive days for the first time since returning from ACL surgery last month.

The guard had eight assists, four points and four steals Tuesday after missing the previous four games with back spasms. He's also struggled with groin and back problems.

"I think it's going to be a good test," said Rubio, who had three assists and no points while missing all three shots in 18 minutes against the Thunder on Dec. 20.

Nikola Pekovic has put together impressive performances in each of the last two games while trying to pick up the slack for the injured Love. The center scored 25 points with 18 rebounds against the Hawks after getting 21 and 15 in a 102-97 loss to Portland on Saturday.

He had 24 points and 10 boards against Oklahoma City last month.

Thunder avoid another letdown, pound Wolves 106-84

By JEFF LATZKE
Posted Jan 09 2013 11:28PM

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma City Thunder got caught overlooking a short-handed opponent once.

Not twice.

Kevin Durant scored 26 points, Russell Westbrook added 23 and the Thunder pulled away for a 106-84 victory Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who were without All-Star forward Kevin Love and four other injured players.

Oklahoma City had lost its last game on a buzzer-beater against a last-place Washington team saddled by injuries to its top three players.

Thunder coach Scott Brooks mentioned before shootaround that Minnesota was in a similar situation as Washington, and his team left nothing to chance.

"Everybody locked in and focused in on Minnesota tonight," Brooks said. "I was glad they came out, and I knew they would. We've always been a team that takes pride in how we play, and they did tonight."

The Thunder took control with a string of seven straight points early in the second half and stretched their lead to 24 before pulling Durant, Westbrook and the other starters with 5:44 remaining.

"We don't really change anything different when we have a bad game," said Durant, who blocked four shots. "Every time we lose and we don't play well defensively, it's just miscommunications and lapses. Once we take those out of the game, we'll be all right."

Alexey Shved scored 18 points for Minnesota, which announced earlier in the day that Love would miss eight to 10 weeks after breaking his right hand for the second time.

The Timberwolves were also without guard J.J. Barea (back spasms), who has given the Thunder fits since the Western Conference finals two seasons ago. Terry Porter, filling in for a second game with coach Rick Adelman out for personal reasons, said Barea was a game-time decision.

Chase Budinger, Brandon Roy and Malcolm Lee were already sidelined with knee injuries for Minnesota.

"Guys have been in and out all year, so we can't use that as an excuse," said Luke Ridnour, who had 11 points, six assists and four steals.

"Obviously, we hope he's back soon but we've got to keep pressing forward. The games, nobody takes it easy on you because you've got guys out. You've got to get ready to go anyway."

Shved also had seven of Minnesota's 19 turnovers, leading to 26 points for the Thunder and helping Oklahoma City to a 23-8 advantage in fast-break scoring.

"You know a team like that's going to explode," Porter said. "I think the one thing, again, you try not to feed it. The thing that we did, we turned it over and that fed their break, got them out in the open court and gave them some easy opportunities.

"That kind of ignited their offensive thrust that they had."

It was tied 16-all after Oklahoma City's lowest-scoring first quarter of the season, but the Thunder were still able to surpass their NBA-best 105.6-point average.

"It was an ugly game early, but I think we were happy we weren't giving up easy shots and making them score on jump shots over a hand," Thunder forward Nick Collison said. "That's what we try and do."

Nikola Pekovic added 17 points and 10 rebounds in the opener of a four-game road trip for the Timberwolves. Derrick Williams, forced into playing time at guard because of all the injuries, had 14 points and a season-high 11 rebounds.

Kevin Martin chipped in 19 points off the bench for Oklahoma City, which had a 12-game winning streak in the series snapped last month in Minnesota. Love had 28 points and Barea scored 14 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter of that 99-93 win.

"They're definitely a different team with all of their players on the floor. But we did a good job," Brooks said. "We played whoever they had and we did a good job of guarding them and making them miss shots."

After the slow offensive start by both teams, Oklahoma City used a 12-2 run to move ahead in the second quarter, also getting above 30 percent shooting in the process. Westbrook converted a jumper and a three-point play, then set up Serge Ibaka's two-handed slam that made it 36-24 with 5:15 left before halftime.

Ridnour had back-to-back steals against Durant to set up fast-break dunks and fuel a comeback as Minnesota tied it at 42 before giving up the final five points of the first half.

Shved opened the second half with a jumper before the Thunder reeled off seven straight points. Oklahoma City led by double digits for the final 20 minutes.

Notes: Brooks got his first technical foul of the season for arguing a foul called against Collison in the third quarter. ... The Thunder had the same starting lineup for the 59th straight game, plus another 20 in last year's playoffs. No other NBA team has had the same starting five in every game this season. "There's no question health is such a good thing to have in this league, and we've had good fortune the last so many years," Brooks said. "Hopefully that continues. You want your best players healthy. You want your entire team healthy." ... Brooks, who grew up in northern California and served as an assistant coach in Sacramento and Seattle, side-stepped a question about his thoughts on the potential for the Kings to be sold to Seattle investors. "My reaction is I'm just focused on the group that I have, the game that we have tonight. I can't focus on any other thing other than that," he said.

Notebook: Thunder 106, Timberwolves 84

Randy Renner, for NBA.com
Posted Wed Jan 09, 2013 11:50 PM - Updated Wed Jan 09, 2013 11:50 PM

THE FACTS: The Oklahoma City Thunder got off to another slow start but dominated the last three quarters to cruise past the short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves 106-84.

Kevin Durant led all scorers with 26 points, he also grabbed eight rebounds. His running mate, point guard Russell Westbrook had 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

The Wolves (16-16) were playing without star forward Kevin Love who learned Wednesday he'll have to have surgery on his broken right hand and will be out eight to 10 weeks and also their head coach Rick Adelman, who missed his second straight game for personal reasons. Minnesota had five players score in double figures led by 18 from Alexey Shved and 17 from Nikola Pekovic. Pekovic also grabbed 10 rebounds. Derrick Williams came off the bench for Minnesota to pick up a double-double with 14 points and 11 boards.

In addition to the 49 points from Durant and Westbrook Oklahoma City (27-8) also got a big scoring night from Kevin Martin. KMart has struggled with his shot lately and did Wednesday, too (4-for-12) but all four of those makes were 3-pointers and he was 7-for-8 at the line. It all added up to 19 points, the most he's scored in the last six games.

The Thunder's slow offensive start (16 points in the first quarter) didn't bother them because they allowed the Timberwolves to score only 16 points, too, in the first 12 minutes.

QUOTABLE: "I thought our defense was good throughout the game and our offense finally kinda caught up with it in the second half but I thought our defense sparked us. The ball wasn't free and their passes weren't open."

-- Thunder head coach Scott Brooks

THE STAT: For the first six minutes of the game Minnesota was shooting 55.6 percent. After the media timeout the Thunder locked in on defense and held the Wolves to just 41.3 percent shooting and 73 points the rest of the way.

TURNING POINT: A 17-6 Thunder run early in the third quarter turned a three-point seat-squirmer into a bit more comfortable 14-point gap by the time the quarter was a bit past the halfway point. OKC didn't allow the margin to dip back into the single digits.

QUOTABLE II: "Our guys played hard but we just ran out of gas. I thought we did a good job in the first half, but we went through a couple of phases where offensively we really struggled. We weren't able to get anything going."

-- Timberwolves acting head coach Terry Porter

HOT: The Timberwolves started the game shooting 55.6 percent (5-for-9) in the first six minutes. ... Westbrook was 5-for-9 (15 points) and Durant was 5-for-10 (15 points) in the first half. ... The Thunder shot 55.3 percent (21-for-38) in the second half.

NOT: The Thunder struggled in the beginning shooting just 37.5 percent (3-for-8) and finished the first quarter even worse at 28.6 percent (6-for-21) and 16 points. ... Minnesota started hot but finished the quarter at 33.3 percent (7-for-21). ... Derrick Williams was 1-for-6 (two points) in the first half.

INSIDE THE ARENA: International music star Gary Morris sang the National Anthem and six-time MMA Champion Randy Couture, who wrestled collegiately at Oklahoma State, sat courtside. Another OSU alum also had floor seats, Cleveland Browns quarterback and Oklahoma City area native Brandon Weeden.

GOOD MOVE: With no Kevin Love to worry about, Serge Ibaka was able to help out down low on Pekovic. He and Kendrick Perkins held Pekovic to just eight points in the first half.

QUOTABLE III: "I think Perk set the tone for us tonight. His defense was key early on, making the other team shoot some tough shots. We fed off his energy."

-- Durant

GOOD MOVE II: Brooks picked up a rare technical foul halfway through the third quarter and it seemed to fire up his ball club. An 11-point OKC lead quickly ballooned to 17.

NOTABLE: Oklahoma City is now 7-1 (.875) in games following a loss this season and over the last three seasons OKC is 42-10 (.808) in bounce-back games.

UP NEXT: For the Timberwolves, Friday @ New Orleans, Sunday @ San Antonio, Monday @ Dallas. For the Thunder, Friday @ L.A. Lakers, Sunday @ Portland, Monday @ Phoenix.

• Timberwolves: Budinger, Roy
• Thunder: Jones, Lamb, Orton

• Timberwolves: Pekovic
• Thunder: Brooks, Ibaka, Perkins

• Lead Changes: 5
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
• Officials: #28 Zach Zarba, #35 Kane Fitzgerald, #60 James Williams
• Attendance: 18203
• Duration: 2:06