The Oklahoma City Thunder will undoubtedly be happy to see the Minnesota Timberwolves when they arrive home Monday night for a brief two-game home stand.
Still desperate to salvage their season in the form of securing a Western Conference playoff berth, OKC (22-22) will be looking to snap a two game losing streak while adding to a run of nine straight wins at home over the lowly Wolves.
With reigning league MVP Kevin Durant set to duel hotshot rookie Andrew Wiggins, Timberwolves vs. OKC Thunder tickets are an average of $89 with a get-in price of $19, according to Totally Tickets. Durant and All-Star guard Russell Westbrook will be looking to lead the Thunder to their eighth win in their last 12 games.
When Durant and Westbrook have been able to stay on the floor at the same time, OKC has shown an ability to be every bit as good as they’ve always been in recent season. After missing the first several weeks with a leg and later an ankle injury, Durant – who averages 26 points, seven rebounds, and four assists – will be making his 13th straight start. The explosive Westbrook is also still rounding into top-form after missing time with a right hand injury.
“Our chemistry is growing every day,” Durant told the team’s website. “We just have to figure it out.”
When it comes to building chemistry and figuring things out, the struggling Wolves (7-36) seemingly have miles to go. Top overall draft pick and rookie forward Wiggins has been one of the team’s lone bright spots, averaging 15 points, four rebounds and three assists.
Wiggins’ figures to spend at least a part of his night matched up against the four-time scoring champion Durant and the assignment perhaps couldn’t have come at a more inopportune time for him.
Durant learned last week his All-Star vote totals had taken a huge enough dive from last season to this one that he was not selected as a starter for next month’s game in New York. While the 23 games he’s missed this season undoubtedly had a lot to do with that, Durant nonetheless seemed a bit perturbed by the news.
“I don’t need the All-Star vote to validate me as a player,” he recently snapped to reporters. “I’m always motivated. This is my eighth year in the league. I’ve been on All-Star teams before. I’ve done things in this league. I don’t need that to validate me.”
The two teams faced off back in early December with Westbrook’s 34 points sparking the Thunder to a 111-92 victory.