Timberwolves Edge Out Thunder at Paycom Center in a Nail-Biter
The Minnesota Timberwolves improved their season record to 33-14 after a hard-fought victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, who now stand at 32-15. The final score read 107-101 in favor of the visitors, with both teams showcasing their competitive spirit until the last buzzer.
At the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, fans witnessed an intense battle where lead changes occurred 24 times and scores were tied on six occasions. The Timberwolves, led by a cohesive team performance, managed to secure a six-point advantage by the end of regulation time. Their scoring was consistent throughout the game with quarter points tallied at 29, 20, 24 and an impressive final push of 34 points.
The Timberwolves' offense was firing on all cylinders as they shot an effective field goal percentage of 57 percent and maintained an offensive rating of approximately 114. Key contributions came from beyond the arc where they hit fourteen three-pointers at a remarkable rate of nearly half their attempts. Inside the paint was another area of dominance for Minnesota; they scored forty-six points while shooting fifty percent on such attempts.
Defensively, Minnesota held its ground as well with seven steals and two blocks contributing to their efforts. They outrebounded Oklahoma City by twelve boards overall – grabbing fifty-three rebounds including nine offensive ones which led to fifteen second-chance points.
A pivotal moment came when Minnesota went on a run that saw them outscore Oklahoma City by nine unanswered points – shifting momentum firmly in their favor late in the game. This surge proved crucial as it helped establish their largest lead of ten points during playtime that spanned over twenty-seven minutes.
On individual performances for Minnesota: ball distribution was evident with twenty-one assists across players while maintaining ball security with only thirteen turnovers. Free throw accuracy also played its part; thirteen free throws were made from fifteen attempts accounting for eighty-seven percent success rate which could have been decisive in this close encounter.
Looking ahead for fans of The Timberwolves: attention now turns back home to Minneapolis where they will face off against Dallas Mavericks at Target Center on January thirty-first at seven o'clock PM Central Time. Supporters can catch all action live on BSN channel six hundred sixty-eight or follow along if away via BSSW channel six hundred seventy-six.