Timberwolves 97 - 106 Thunder
Final
  for this game

Durant, Thunder welcome Wolves to OKC

Feb 5, 2014 - 3:30 PM

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(SportsNetwork.com) - The Oklahoma City Thunder can become the NBA's first 40- win team of the season Wednesday night when they welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves to Chesapeake Energy Arena.

The Thunder had a 10-game winning streak snapped on Saturday night in Washington by the Wizards, but they started a new one Monday with an 86-77 home win over the red-hot Memphis Grizzlies.

The Thunder weren't the only ones starting a new streak.

Kevin Durant poured in 31 points, grabbed eight rebounds and handed out eight assists in the victory. Durant scored 26 points in his last two games after registering at least 30 in 12 straight outings. He finished 11-of-21 from the floor for the Thunder,

Serge Ibaka added 21 points and 12 boards in the win.

"I thought we did a good job of playing tough defensive basketball. Sometimes you have to play different styles to get a win," Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said.

OKC has won seven straight at home and eight in a row at home against Wednesday's opposition.

The Timberwolves halted a two-game slide on Tuesday night with a 109-99 home win over the sagging Los Angeles Lakers, who welcomed two-time MVP Steve Nash back to the lineup.

Kevin Love scored 31 points and pulled down 17 rebounds, and the Timberwolves ran out to a big lead before securing the victory at Target Center.

Kevin Martin tied a season-high with 32 points for the Timberwolves, who beat the Lakers for just the third time in the last 29 matchups. Corey Brewer and J.J. Barea each scored 11.

"It was a good win to get," Minnesota head coach Rick Adelman said. "They came at us in the second half, we did the things we had to do to get the win."

The Wolves held a 25-point lead during the second quarter before the Lakers came charging. They never got closer than seven, but the Wolves had to tighten things on the defensive end.

Minnesota suffered a bit of a scare. Love collapsed to the floor with 4:10 left in the game when he drove to the hoop before being fouled by Robert Sacre. Love's rear hit the deck hard and he grabbed his tailbone in obvious pain. After a timeout, Love was back on the floor and made both his free throw attempts.

The Thunder have taken two of three matchups this season and 16 of the last 19 meetings.






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