Oklahoma City @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 13, 2020 ) Oklahoma City 117, Minnesota 104

The Oklahoma City Thunder seek their fifth consecutive victory and 17th in the past 22 games when they visit the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. The Thunder continued their winning ways with a 140-111 home rout of the Atlanta Hawks on Friday as seven players scored in double digits.

Oklahoma City established a season best for points and knocked down 58.1 percent of its shots - including 14 of 25 attempts from 3-point range - in the convincing triumph over the Hawks. "When the ball goes in the basket, you score a lot of points," Thunder coach Billy Donovan told reporters afterward. "As long we're generating good shots and good looks, you kind of live with it." Minnesota has lost eight straight games and 22 of its last 27 after suffering a 131-124 home loss to the Houston Rockets on Friday. "I like a lot of things and the effort," Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders said afterward. "Obviously, I did not like the outcome."

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: FS Oklahoma, FS North, NBA TV Canada

ABOUT THE THUNDER (27-19): Forward Danilo Gallinari (25 points on 7-of-10 shooting), guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (24 points, six assists) and backup guard Dennis Schroder (21 points, eight assists) all topped 20 points during Friday's explosion. Oklahoma City scored at least 33 points in each quarter and backup power forward Mike Muscala (14 points) joined Gallinari in making four 3-pointers, which is one shy of his career best. "I'm happy he's shot the ball better of late," Donovan told the media afterward. "I think he's a much, much better shooter than maybe what he's shown. He's really reliable, he's smart, he's a really good defensive player and he's a great teammate."

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (15-30): Star center Karl-Anthony Towns had 30 points and 12 rebounds in the loss to Houston after scoring a season-high 40 in the previous contest against Chicago. "We didn't come out with the win, but we fought very well and competed very well," Towns told reporters after the latest setback. "We did a lot of good things defensively, actually, doing a lot of good things and sticking to our game plan." Towns, who recently missed 15 games with a knee injury, is averaging 27.4 points in five games since his return.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Thunder averaged 128 points while beating the Timberwolves twice this season and have won the past three meetings.

2. Oklahoma City C Steven Adams (ankle) could miss his third straight game.

3. Minnesota swingman Allen Crabbe is averaging 5.3 points on 6-of-17 shooting in three games since being acquired from the Hawks.

PREDICTION: Thunder 114, Timberwolves 113