(Sports Network) - Still in the running for the top seed in the Western
Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder will kick off a five-game road trip
tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.
The Northwest Division-champion Thunder are just one game ahead of San Antonio
for the conference's top spot and were able to post a 115-89 home win last
night against the lowly Sacramento Kings. Kevin Durant had 29 points and nine
rebounds, while Russell Westbrook had 22 points, six rebounds and five assists
for Oklahoma City, which has won three of four since losing three straight.
"That team is a very good offensive rebounding team," Durant said of the
Kings. "I think our bigs did a good job on them...We got a good win. We needed
this one."
Derek Fisher netted 14 points off the bench in the win. The Thunder are 18-10
on the road and will be rooting for the Phoenix Suns tonight against the
Spurs.
Oklahoma City will also visit the Clippers, Suns, Kings and Lakers. Thunder
top reserve James Harden missed Friday's game with a sore right knee and is
questionable for Saturday. He is averaging 16.7 ppg this season.
Minnesota hopes to put the brakes on an eight-game losing streak tonight back
in the Twin Cities, where it has dropped the past four contests and owns a
13-16 record.
The Timberwolves were last in action during a 95-82 loss versus the Los
Angeles Clippers on Thursday, as All-Star Kevin Love missed the game after
suffering a mild concussion and neck strain during a loss at Denver on
Wednesday. Love is out indefinitely. Nikola Pekovic had 17 points for the
Wolves, who were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss.
"We just couldn't make a shot (in the fourth quarter)," said Timberwolves head
coach Rick Adelman. "We just ran out of gas."
Minnesota's season turned on March 9 when it lost dynamic rookie point guard
Ricky Rubio to a torn ACL in a loss to the Lakers. It is 4-15 since the
Spanish sensation went down with the injury.
The last time Minnesota and Oklahoma City got together was on March 23 in a
149-140 double-overtime triumph for the Thunder. Westbrook had 45 points and
Durant added 40, while Love poured in a franchise-best 51 points. Oklahoma
City is 2-0 against the Wolves this season and has won 11 in a row in this
series.
The Thunder have also won six straight and nine of 10 games at Target Center.
The Sports Network