MINNESOTA TAKES 115-108 HOME OPENER WIN
EMPTY POSSESSIONS IN 4TH QUARTER DOOM OKC
The NBA season opener for the Oklahoma City Thunder was somewhat typical for the youngest team in the league. The first half saw the Minnesota Timbervolves control the Thunder as they built a 65-52 after the first 24 minutes at the Target Center in Minneapolis. One would expect so much as a veteran T-Wolves squad with an added big man, Rudy Gobert, along with Karl Anthony-Towns and company took the young group from Reno Street to the cleaners.
The half-time adjustments by the OKC coaching staff was effective as the Thunder controlled the third quarter, picking up the pace and causing the T-Wolves into turnovers as the 13 point lead went to an 8 point deficit before a six point ending of the quarter. At the end of that 12 minutes the score was even at 79. As most NBA games go in the final quarter, Minnesota gained back control and finished off the Thunder 115-108.
Observations for OKC:
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On four consecutive positions in the later part of the 4th quarter, from 3:18 to 1:59, Aleksej Pokusevski, missed a shot, allowing the T-Wolves to increase their 103-105 lead to at 103-109. That six point run and empty possessions by Poku was basically the game. In the final three minutes Poku cannot be the primary shooter for the Thunder. Coach Daigneault cannot allow that to happen with much better scorers on the floor.
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Eugene Omoruyi showed his defensive skills outplaying Karl Anthony-Towns while on the court for his 14 minutes against the All-Star. Anthony-Towns scored only 12 in the contest and had the muscle to match up with the taller opponent. Yet, the very raw 25 year old showed his limitations on offense in the final quarter as he was not productive on that end of the floor. But a good start for this possible rotation player.
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Jalen Williams was effective before he was clocked in the eye on a drive by a T-Wolve. He will be one of the major players for OKC this year. He will be out for some time as he underwent surgery for his injury today. The officials said he made illegal contact with his face with the elbow of Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels. Figure that out folks. OKC got hosed on that one in my opinion.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gave OKC a solid big time game but Josh Giddy, Lu Dort and the rest of the team were just ordinary. Another player or two have to play better for OKC to win games like this.
The Thunder meet Minnesota this Sunday night in OKC in Game 3 of the season. OKC plays at Denver on Saturday night.
Good shooting Thunder fans.
Jalen Williams OUT as he used his face to foul a T-Wolve elbow. Sure.
Here's the play pic.twitter.com/rAzrU5FDdw
— Joe Mussatto (@joe_mussatto) October 21, 2022
