Broadcast Information
- Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. CT
- Television: Fox Sports Oklahoma
- Radio: WWLS the Sports Animal and the Thunder Radio Network
For the seventh-consecutive Christmas Day, the Thunder will be front and center as one of the premier teams in the league who are honored by playing on the yearly national holiday. Tonight’s clash with the Minnesota Timberwolves at Chesapeake Energy Arena will be exciting yet again for Thunder fans, as their team gets to be a part of so many Americans’ holiday.
Minnesota stars Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine are each scoring over 20 points per game thanks to sharpshooting from the perimeter and precision around the basket. In fact, Lavine is coming off of a 40-point performance against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night. Tonight, in order to get a hard earned home win over its Northwest Division Rivals, the Thunder will have to shut off driving lanes and close out on the perimeter to keep the Timberwolves cool for 48 minutes.
On the offensive end, point guard Russell Westbrook is at the helm of an offense that wants to continue to improve the types of looks it’s getting within the flow of team concepts. Coming off of his 14th career triple-double on the road against the Boston Celtics, a 45-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist performance, Westbrook will look to continue bringing his personal brand of relentless inner drive and fire to the court every night. He’s now scored over 40 points in three straight games while managing to make an impact in all facets of the game.
“What it displays more than anything else is his uniqueness as a player. There’s nobody like him in the NBA. There just isn’t,” Thunder Head Coach Billy Donovan said. “The size, the speed, the athleticism, the experience, the smarts, the ability to read the game and study the game, the way he can impact the game and impact his teammates, he’s a unique player all the way around.”
Part of Westbrook’s influence has been to generate open shots for his teammates and help impose a style of play that can provide offensive balance amongst the rest of the players on the floor. That system-driven style is the most sure-fire way to get open layups and corner three-pointers, with all five players providing a threat on each possession.
On Wednesday against New Orleans, it was Alex Abrines who shined within that system, scoring 18 points. On Friday against Boston it was Domas Sabonis who chipped in 20 points. For both players, their ability to play at a high level on the road despite struggles or inconsistent minutes has stemmed from the trust both Westbrook and the coaching staff have put in them every night.
“I think it’s just confidence in myself,” Sabonis said. “Russ has done a great job of helping me. Everyone on the team wants me to shoot it when I’m open.”
“You have to show confidence by continuing to go to him,” Donovan said. “He’s a very good player and is going to be a good player. It was good to see him step up.”
Which player steps up tonight will have a special Christmas memory to show for it, but in order for the Thunder to win tonight, it will have to maintain that offensive stamina for all four quarters.