27 December 2023
If there is one concern amid an otherwise remarkable start to the season for the Timberwolves, it’s the question about the defense on the road. At home, you cannot score on the Wolves. But when Minnesota travels, it occasionally finds itself getting scorched.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) blocks a shot by Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Such was the case Tuesday in Oklahoma City, as the Thunder rained down 18 triples en route to a 129-106 victory over Minnesota.
The 129 points were the second-most the Wolves have relinquished all season. The Thunder shot 61 percent from the field and 46 percent from distance.
Part of that can be due to a regression in 3-point defense. The Kings went a paltry 8 for 33 from deep on Saturday against the Wolves, despite 31 of those 33 looks being “open” or “wide open,” according to NBA.com. Oklahoma City missed no such looks Tuesday.
The Thunder (19-9) scored 40 points in the first frame alone. Minnesota (22-7) managed to keep pace through one half, trailing just 66-60 at the break due to ample offensive success on its own end.
But it’s difficult to continue to score at that clip. At some point, Minnesota’s defense needed to answer the call and elevate to its traditional level of excellence. It did not.
The Wolves surrendered another 36 points in the third as Oklahoma City went 14 for 19 from the floor. Tuesday’s outburst for the Thunder came a month after they were held to 103 points on 41 percent shooting from the floor at Target Center.
But this defense doesn’t always travel. Six of Minnesota’s seven losses this season have come on the road.
Karl-Anthony Towns returned after missing Saturday’s contest in Sacramento with knee soreness, but seemed to lack some mobility as he, like the rest of his teammates, struggled on the defensive end. Towns finished with 16 points and six rebounds in 29 minutes.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, drives past Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, left, in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
All five Oklahoma City starters finished in double digits scoring, with four of them cracking 20 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 34 points — on 14 for 19 shooting — to go with nine assists and six rebounds. Minnehaha Academy alum Chet Holmgren had 20 points, five assists, four rebounds and two blocked shots.
Oklahoma City’s starters shot 68 percent from the floor.
Minnesota simply couldn’t contend with that. Anthony Edwards had 25 points, seven assists and six boards while having success getting to the free-throw line, while Mike Conley hit five triples to help keep Minnesota within striking distance for the game’s first 35 minutes.
But if you can’t get stops, you can’t beat good teams. Minnesota is a good team — a great one, really. But so is Oklahoma City. That’s the type of team the Wolves will likely meet at some point in the Western Conference playoffs. And they need to find a way to more consistently defend those teams outside of the state of Minnesota.