The upstart Thunder partook in a breathless contest against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, winning by the skin of their teeth. On Tuesday in LA, Minnesota fell prey to mistakes that have cost them dearly in the past, hence why they have to contest in a second play-in bout.

It’s the Timberwolves who are given the benefit of the doubt. They sit as -5 favourites on the NBA odds. The number crunching has resulted in a total of 227.5.

Thunder vs. Timberwolves NBA Betting Odds

If the season series is anything to go by, then Minnesota does indeed have the upper hand. Chris Finch’s men took three of the four meetings this year, although the most they won by was 10 points and even that happened only once. Of note is that the highest-scoring game by far was the one OKC claimed.

Who knows how far the Thunder can go? 2022-2023 was deemed a “rebuilding” year, but they’re on the cusp of playoff contention. They ride a three-game winning streak and the same goes for the number of consecutively covered spreads. Curiously, for a team that finished fifth in the NBA in scoring, the under has connected in six of their most recent 10 contests.

If there is one thing that can be said, it’s that most of the players on the Timberwolves roster have been here before. Lest it is forgotten that Minnesota clawed its way out of last year’s play-in tournament. As such, they can head into Friday night with some confidence. Better can take notice that win or lose, Minnesota has covered the past four spreads and that the under has cashed in in four of the last five.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Wednesday in New Orleans was this iteration of the Thunder’s first taste of post-season excitement. Much like how they’ve performed under Mark Daigneault, they played fast and offensively minded. It almost came back to bite them, but it worked in the end.

The contest was similar to the Minnesota-LA and Chicago-Toronto games as evidence of why the idea of the play-in isn’t so bad. It was a true back-and-forth affair. Nobody could predict the winner for most of the night. The biggest leads were 10 for OKC and nine for the Pelicans, but neither stood for very long. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a rough first half, but when his mates needed him most he was great, finishing with 32 points off 11-for-22 shooting. Montrealer Luguentz Dort had one of the best games of his career with 27 points and Aussie Josh Giddey tallied 31. The Thunder’s stars played as such, which is all a coach and fanbase can ask for at this time of year. Thunder rock their way to a 123-118 win.

Minnesota Timberwolves

One wonders if dark thoughts percolated in the back of Wolves fans’ minds as they watched their beloved squad waltz its way to a comfortable first-half lead. Could they fumble the ball again in a big moment?

Karl-Anthony Towns was having a ball and finished with a nice stats sheet (24 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists). He looked confident, regardless of who defended him, even earning some impressive buckets against Anthony Davis. Mike Conley wasn’t far behind with 23 points of his own, and on more than one occasion nailed three-point shots (6-for-8) that, on any other night, would have broken an opposing team’s spirit. But this is Minnesota and life plays out as though nice things aren’t allowed to happen to them. LA chipped away at a 15-point third-quarter deficit. The turnovers were 24-21, but it felt like Minnesota’s 24 happened in the most critical moments. Lebron James (30 points) and company pushed the game to overtime, where they eventually emerged as 108-102 victors.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Thunder vs. Timberwolves?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Thunder Team Leaders

OKC

Points	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 31.4
Assists	Josh Giddey 6.17
Rebounds	Josh Giddey 7.88
FG%	Jalen Williams 52.1
Steals	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 1.65
Blocks	Aleksej Pokusevski 1.26

MIN

Points	Anthony Edwards 24.63
Assists	Mike Conley 5
Rebounds	Rudy Gobert 11.63
FG%	Rudy Gobert 65.9
Steals	Anthony Edwards 1.58
Blocks	Rudy Gobert 1.36

OKC

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

MIN

Points	Anthony Edwards 31.6
Assists	Mike Conley 6.4
Rebounds	Rudy Gobert 12.2
FG%	Rudy Gobert 63
Steals	Josh Minott 2
Blocks	Anthony Edwards 2

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Timberwolves Team Leaders

OKC

Points	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 31.4
Assists	Josh Giddey 6.17
Rebounds	Josh Giddey 7.88
FG%	Jalen Williams 52.1
Steals	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 1.65
Blocks	Aleksej Pokusevski 1.26

MIN

Points	Anthony Edwards 24.63
Assists	Mike Conley 5
Rebounds	Rudy Gobert 11.63
FG%	Rudy Gobert 65.9
Steals	Anthony Edwards 1.58
Blocks	Rudy Gobert 1.36

OKC

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

MIN

Points	Anthony Edwards 31.6
Assists	Mike Conley 6.4
Rebounds	Rudy Gobert 12.2
FG%	Rudy Gobert 63
Steals	Josh Minott 2
Blocks	Anthony Edwards 2

Injuries

Oklahoma City

Luguentz Dort (SG)

Prob Wed Shoulder - 09 / 04 / 23

Jaylin Williams (PF)

Prob Wed Back - 09 / 04 / 23

Luguentz Dort (SG)

Prob Thurs Shoulder - 05 / 04 / 23

Aleksej Pokusevski (PF)

Out Fri Knee - 04 / 04 / 23

Lindy Waters III (SF)

Prob Fri Foot - 26 / 03 / 23

Kenrich Williams (SG)

out for season Wrist - 01 / 03 / 23

Eugene Omoruyi (SF)

Ques Wed Ankle - 13 / 02 / 23

Dario Saric (SF)

Ques Wed Acquired - 10 / 02 / 23

Jalen Williams (SG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 31 / 01 / 23

Luguentz Dort (SG)

Prob Fri Hamstring - 26 / 01 / 23

Minnesota

Jaylen Nowell (SG)

Prob Tues Knee - 24 / 04 / 23

Kyle Anderson (SF)

Out Tues Eye - 24 / 04 / 23

Josh Minott (SF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 22 / 04 / 23

Jaylen Nowell (SG)

Prob Sun Knee - 22 / 04 / 23

Josh Minott (SF)

Ques Fri Ankle - 21 / 04 / 23

Jaylen Nowell (SG)

Prob Fri Knee - 20 / 04 / 23

Rudy Gobert (C)

Prob Fri Back - 20 / 04 / 23

Jaylen Nowell (SG)

Prob Wed Knee - 18 / 04 / 23

Rudy Gobert (C)

Prob Wed Back - 18 / 04 / 23

Jaylen Nowell (SG)

Ques Sun Knee - 15 / 04 / 23

Injuries

Oklahoma City

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Luguentz Dort (SG)	Prob Wed	Shoulder - 09 / 04 / 23	2-0	0-2	+ -
Dort is dealing with a right shoulder strain, but it is likely that he will partake in the Western Conference Play-in tournament versus the Pelicans.
Jaylin Williams (PF)	Prob Wed	Back - 09 / 04 / 23	2-0	0-2	+ -
Williams is tending to lower back soreness, but it is forecasted that he will face the Pelicans in the Western Conference Play-in tournament.
Luguentz Dort (SG)	Prob Thurs	Shoulder - 05 / 04 / 23	2-2	2-2	+ -
Dort has a right shoulder strain, but it is projected he will dress for Thursday's clash with the Jazz.
Aleksej Pokusevski (PF)	Out Fri	Knee - 04 / 04 / 23	2-2	2-2	+ -
Pokusevski is hobbled by a left knee contusion, and he will not be in the lineup for the Western Conference Play-in game with the Timberwolves.
Lindy Waters III (SF)	Prob Fri	Foot - 26 / 03 / 23	2-7	3-6	+ -
Watters III has been held out of the last three games due to plantar fasciitis, but it is forecasted that he will lace up for Friday's battle with the Pacers.
Kenrich Williams (SG)	out for season	Wrist - 01 / 03 / 23	10-13	12-10-1	+ -
Williams is out for the remainder of the season while recuperating from surgery to repair a scapholunate ligament rupture in his left wrist.
Eugene Omoruyi (SF)	Ques Wed	Ankle - 13 / 02 / 23	12-14	14-13-1	+ -
Omoruyi missed the previous contest due to a left ankle sprain, leaving it up in the air whether he will be active Wednesday versus the Rockets.
Dario Saric (SF)	Ques Wed	Acquired - 10 / 02 / 23	13-14	15-13-1	+ -
Saric was recently acquired through a trade, and it is unclear if he will suit up Wednesday against the Rockets.
Jalen Williams (SG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 31 / 01 / 23	15-17	18-15-1	+ -
Williams is nursing a left ankle injury, but it is likely that he will face the Rockets on Wednesday.
Luguentz Dort (SG)	Prob Fri	Hamstring - 26 / 01 / 23	16-18	19-16-1	+ -
Dort has been out of action due to a right hamstring strain, but he is expected to return against the Trail Blazers on Friday.

Minnesota

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jaylen Nowell (SG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 24 / 04 / 23	1-1	1-0-1	+ -
Nowell is dealing with left knee tendinopathy, but it is not expected to impact his availability versus the Nuggets in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round.
Kyle Anderson (SF)	Out Tues	Eye - 24 / 04 / 23	1-1	1-0-1	+ -
Anderson is nursing an eye injury, and he will not dress for Game 5 of the Western Conference first round against the Nuggets.
Josh Minott (SF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 22 / 04 / 23	1-2	2-0-1	+ -
Minott is hindered by a left ankle sprain, but it is expected that he will partake in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round versus the Nuggets.
Jaylen Nowell (SG)	Prob Sun	Knee - 22 / 04 / 23	1-2	2-0-1	+ -
Nowell has tendinopathy in his left knee, but it is likely that he will lace up for Game 4 of the Western Conference first round versus the Nuggets.
Josh Minott (SF)	Ques Fri	Ankle - 21 / 04 / 23	1-2	2-0-1	+ -
Minott is hindered by a left ankle sprain, and it is uncertain if he will partake in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round versus the Nuggets.
Jaylen Nowell (SG)	Prob Fri	Knee - 20 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-1-1	+ -
Nowell has tendinopathy in his left knee, but it is not expected to affect his status for Game 3 of the Western Conference first round versus the Nuggets.
Rudy Gobert (C)	Prob Fri	Back - 20 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-1-1	+ -
Gobert is dealing with back spams, but it is anticipated that he will face the Nuggets in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round.
Jaylen Nowell (SG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 18 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-1-1	+ -
Nowell is tending to left knee tendinopathy, but it is anticipated that he will dress for Game 2 of the Western Conference first round against the Nuggets.
Rudy Gobert (C)	Prob Wed	Back - 18 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-1-1	+ -
Gobert is dealing with back spams, but he is expected to face the Nuggets in Game 2 of the Western Conference first round.
Jaylen Nowell (SG)	Ques Sun	Knee - 15 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-1-1	+ -
Nowell is tending to left knee tendinopathy, and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Nuggets.