NBA Play-In: Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves

By Sam Batz

The NBA Play-in Tournament has reached its final day, and will feature the Oklahoma City Thunder taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, April 14th (9:30 PM EST, ESPN). The Thunder and Timberwolves will duke it out for the 8th seed in the West. The winner will go on to play the Denver Nuggets in the First Round of the NBA Playoffs, while the loser’s season will end then and there. The Thunder are the 2nd-youngest team in the NBA and have defied all expectations by making it this far, but they are the underdogs for Friday, priced at +185. The Timberwolves are loaded with talent, but injuries and recent locker room drama have put them in a tough position, but despite all of the distractions, Minnesota is favored at -225.

Oklahoma City Thunder Shock The League (+185)

The OKC Thunder finished the regular season at 40-42 (48.8%) and entered the play-in tournament as the No. 10 seed. The Thunder have won three consecutive games, including their upset victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in the first-round of the play-in. The Thunder beat New Orleans 123-118 on Wednesday thanks to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32 points), Josh Giddey (31 points), and Luguentz Dort (27 points), who combined for 90 points. OKC may be young, but they play with a lot of heart, hustle to make the small plays, and can absolutely pour it on when they are feeling it. OKC averaged 117.5 points per game (5th) during the regular season, and on Friday, will take on a Timberwolves team who gave up 115.8 points per game to their opponents during the regular season. 

Minnesota Timberwolves Drama & Distraction (-225)

The Timberwolves finished the regular season 42-40 (51.2%) and ended their season on a three-game winning streak. But on Tuesday, April 11th, Minnesota fell to the LA Lakers 102-108 in the first round of the play-in tournament, and must now face the Thunder in a highly anticipated win or go home play-in final. Many of us had the Lakers winning after the drama that unfolded during Minnesota’s regular season-finale, when Center Rudy Gobert appeared to throw a punch at teammate Kyle Anderson during a timeout break. Gobert did not return after the altercation, and the Timberwolves won the game, but afterwards in the locker room, more drama unfolded when it was reported that Jaden McDaniels punched a wall and broke his hand. McDaniels is out indefinitely and Gobert is doubtful to return, but despite the setbacks, Minnesota is still favored to beat the Thunder on Friday. 

Thunder vs. Timberwolves Odds

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Thunder vs. Timberwolves: Regular Season Stats

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Thunder vs. Timberwolves Prediction

Take the OKC Thunder to beat the Timberwolves on Friday. OKC is young and hungry, while the Timberwolves are old and tired. The drama surrounding Minnesota is a massive distraction for the team, and has left them without two key players. Rudy Gobert’s reputation of being a poor teammate was on full display in Minnesota’s season-finale, and I would be shocked if they let him play on Friday in such a massive game. The Thunder can struggle on the road, and are 1-3 against Minnesota this season, but OKC is playing excellent team basketball, with a determination to prove everyone who doubted them wrong. 

Prediction: OKC Thunder Moneyline (+185) and the Over (227.5)

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