* Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came into the game sick and with a questionable tag. The reigning MVP played and dropped 40 on the Wolves, going 12-of-19 from the field, 15-of-17 at the line, plus 6 rebounds and 6 assists.
* In other words, sick SGA is still an MVP-caliber player.
* Minnesota drilled 17 threes on 45.9% shooting from deep. OKC converted just 26.9% of its threes (7-26). That's right, Minnesota outscored Oklahoma City **by thirty points from three**. That kind of disparity would sink most teams.
* I feel like I'm repeating myself, but the Thunder just has many ways it can win. If the team shoots well, it will blast the doors off its opponents, but even when the shots aren't falling, OKC is so tough to beat because it makes so many other winning plays.
* Last night? The Thunder made its free throws (30 on 78.9% compared to 22 on 59.% for Minny), won the points off turnover battle (20-11), won the turnover battle (14-7), won the points in the paint battle (50-28), won the fast break points battle (16-8).
* Speaking of turnovers, OKC finishing with only 7 is a strong indication of how focused the team was on playing smart. Against an overmatched opponent we've seen the Thunder get sloppy with the ball, but the players knew the margins could be thin tonight, with every possession counting, and they did a great job of protecting the ball. SGA had a strong 6:1 assist to turnover ratio, and a 3:1 steals to turnover ratio.
* Ajay Mitchell gave OKC real juice: 13 points, three assists, +15.
* Chet struggled hard the first three quarters. He was just 1-of-7 from the field headed into the fourth. Holmgren was visibly frustrated with himself. But bro is a baller and was monumental in the fourth quarter. Chet had 10 points in the final frame, including two absolutely critical threes to keep Minnesota at bay.
* Gobert is not good at free throws.
* Welcome back Kenrich Williams! Kenny Hustle didn't score, but in 13 minutes he logged 4 rebounds and an assist.
* OKC's on a 77.7-win pace.
In the first rematch of last season's Western Conference Finals, with huge NBA Cup implications, you just knew this was going to be a big game. ESPN in town, the Wolves basically healthy and hungry to avenge last season's playoff ouster, this game _felt_ like a playoff game.
With the Thunder cruising through the regular season, just mauling opponent after opponent after some early season battles–would the Thunder be ready for an all-out playoff-style brawl?
Yep. In a physical contest that saw 75 free throws, 2 technical fouls (against Minnesota), and 1 flagrant (against Minnesota), the defending MVP champs survived an Anthony Edwards three-point barrage and a Rudy Gobert block party to grind out a win.
I love to watch the Thunder just devastate their opponents, but seeing OKC out execute a playoff team (yet again) to get to 18-1 on the season?
Just beautiful.