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Timberwolves go for fourth straight win vs. Thunder

Jan 7, 2009 - 11:44 AM Oklahoma City (9-25) at Minnesota (5-30) 8:00 p.m. EST

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- What are the odds? Two of the worst teams in the league will face off on Wednesday, and both are coming off victories.

The Oklahoma City Thunder return home after a four-game road trip to host the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have recovered from a miserable first two months to win three straight games for the first time all season.

After suffering through a mostly terrible campaign, the Thunder have shown signs of life recently - particularly in their last three contests. They closed out 2008 with a win over the Golden State Warriors and opened the new year with an impressive showing against the Denver Nuggets, falling on Carmelo Anthony's last-second 3-pointer.

On Tuesday, Oklahoma City got back on track with a 107-99 victory over the New York Knicks. It held a season-high 23-point lead in the third quarter before allowing the Knicks to come back but closed it out with a few key baskets down the stretch.

Kevin Durant and Jeff Green scored 27 points apiece in the win.

The Timberwolves, meanwhile, have not yet lost this calendar year. The 13-game losing streak that ended last month seems like a distant memory as they have posted back-to-back road victories over the Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies, with Al Jefferson averaging 18.5 points and 13.0 boards in the wins.

Of course, these two clubs are not strangers. The Thunder's first win of the season came against Minnesota in early November, with the Timberwolves getting their revenge with a two-point triumph four weeks later.