Date: Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network
The Oklahoma City Thunder (26-5) are set to challenge the Minnesota Timberwolves (17-14) at Paycom Center this Tuesday.
In their latest outing, the Timberwolves managed to secure a close victory against the Spurs, finishing 112-110. During the game, Minnesota showcased a shooting efficiency of 43.0% (43 of 100) and successfully converted 11 of 44 attempts from beyond the arc. At the free-throw line, the Timberwolves made 15 out of 19 shots, achieving a conversion rate of 78.9%. Collectively, they dominated the boards with 56 rebounds, including 18 on the offensive end. Additionally, Minnesota tallied 23 assists, forced 10 turnovers from the opposing team, and recorded 4 steals. Defensively, they held the Spurs to a 43.7% shooting percentage (38 of 87). In terms of playmaking, San Antonio notched 25 assists, acquired 6 steals, grabbed 41 rebounds (8 offensive, 33 defensive), and blocked 5 shots. The Spurs were effective from the free-throw line, hitting 23 of 28 for an impressive 82.1%, and managed to sink 11 out of 39 three-point attempts. The Timberwolves concluded the game with 23 personal fouls, while the Spurs had 18.
Donte DiVincenzo had a standout performance, scoring 26 points with an impressive shooting accuracy of 53.3% (8 of 15). He also contributed with 7 rebounds during his 34 minutes on the court and provided 4 assists.
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The Timberwolves enter this game with a 17-14 record for the season. They are averaging 15.6 turnovers and committing 18.2 personal fouls per game. As a team, Minnesota is grabbing an average of 43.1 rebounds and has accumulated 779 assists throughout the season, ranking them 21st in the league for assists. In terms of shooting, the Timberwolves have a three-point success rate of 37.2% (462 of 1,243) and a free-throw percentage of 78.2%. They are scoring an average of 109.3 points per game, which ranks 23rd in the NBA, while their overall shooting percentage is at 45.8%.
On the defensive end, Minnesota forces an average of 15.8 turnovers and draws 18.8 fouls per game. They rank 3rd in the league for assists allowed, giving up a total of 749 assists this season. Their defense permits opponents to shoot 45.8% (1,234 of 2,697) and allows 43.5 rebounds per game. Opponents are shooting 34.4% from three-point range, while the Timberwolves rank 5th in the league, only allowing an average of 107.2 points per game.
In their most recent game, the Thunder secured a comfortable win over the Grizzlies, with a score of 130-106. On the boards, Oklahoma City permitted Memphis to grab a total of 51 rebounds (16 offensive). The Thunder’s three-point shooting was less successful, clocking in at 27.5% with 14 of 51 attempts. From the free-throw line, Oklahoma City went 18 for 21, achieving 85.7%. Memphis was held to a shooting mark of 38.1% on 37 of 97 attempts from the field, whereas the Thunder hit 52 of 103 for a shooting rate of 50.5%. Oklahoma City excelled in free throws, making all 12 attempts for a perfect percentage. The Thunder also enjoyed a strong defensive showing, forcing 10 turnovers while making 10 steals. They secured a total of 45 rebounds in this matchup, with 36 being defensive.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played a crucial role in the Thunder’s victory, shooting 14 of 19 for an impressive 73.7% accuracy, alongside 6 rebounds and contributing 35 points in just 28 minutes of action, including 7 assists.
The Thunder are enjoying a remarkable season with a 26-5 record as of now. Offensively, Oklahoma City boasts a shooting percentage of 46.6%, ranking them 15th in the league. They have accumulated a total of 3,578 points this season, averaging 115.4 points per game, while grabbing an impressive 44.2 rebounds on a nightly basis. Their assist tally stands at 25.8 per game, which also ranks 15th in the league, alongside an average of 11.7 turnovers. The team is averaging 20.7 fouls each game and hitting 81.7% from the free-throw line.
Defensively, the Thunder allow opponents to shoot 33.0% from beyond the arc (393 of 1,190), and they surrender 74.5% of free-throw attempts. They rank 3rd in the league for assists allowed (24.0) but are last in rebounds surrendered (47.6). Oklahoma City leads the league in defensive points allowed, with an average of just 103.3 points per game. They also excel at forcing turnovers, averaging 18.9 per game, while holding opponents to a shooting percentage of 42.3% (1st in the league).
Free Pick: Bet on Oklahoma City (-7.5)
