Howlin' T-Wolf A Fresh Perspective and Completely Biased Blog About Everything Minnesota Timberwolves

Timberwolves: 14-45

Thunder: 33-23

Kevin Durant’s impressive scoring streak of 29 games with 25 or more points is now kaput and his Oklahoma City Thunder are now on a losing streak. Before this current funk, the Thunder were on a nine game winning streak, which included a win over Minnesota just last Sunday. The Wolves will definitely be looking for some revenge tonight in Oklahoma City’s Ford Center. But just because “Durantulla’s” scoring streak is now over, doesn’t mean the Wolves have eliminated one of the league’s best players by no means. I mean, his streak ended on a game where he still scored an honorable 21 points. The man has the ability to turn up the heat and melt opposing defenses with a sweet shooting stroke, not to mention some thunderous dunks. I will say that the Wolves are coming into tonight’s game in a good position though. Not only did we beat Miami on Tuesday night but we put up one heck of a fight against a considerably better team in the Atlanta Hawks. Kevin Love has been on a hot streak of his own and will try to continue that play tonight.The key for tonight, though, will be consistency. We’ve gotten a little better in most aspects of the game lately but now we need to hold some sense of consistency to make it all work. I’m getting ready to dub Jonny Flynn as “Mr. Inconsistent” because, well, I think it explains itself. Facing a tough counterpart in Russell Westbrook — whom many people think Flynn can duplicate with some hard work and a consistent game – Flynn will need to show that lock down defense he’s been thought to have. And it would be a miracle to see him shoot over, or even just around, 50% for the night.

Match-ups:

Point Guard:

Jonny Flynn vs. Russell Westbrook

This will be the key match up tonight. On Sunday night, Westbrook put up a triple-double with a staggering 14 assists against the Wolves. Westbrook has now launched himself among the league’s top point guards and the irony in that is that he still has a streaky jump shot, just like Flynn. Flynn needs to learn from Westbrook and find something he can excel in. I read in John Hollinger’s chat with Sportsnation that Flynn is just mediocre in everything he does. Well for tonight, I would like to see Flynn pick up his defense and rise above mediocrity.

Advantage: Oklahoma City

Shooting Guard:

Corey Brewer vs. Thabo Sefolosha

Putting Thabo aside, the guy to watch for tonight is James Harden. He has been quiet scoring as of late and it wouldn’t be favorable for the Wolves if he heats back up tonight. Brewer had a tough going Wednesday night. He started slow and it stayed that way until about midway through the 4th quarter — he had only three points going into that quarter but finished with 10. Brewer will need a more consistent shooting stroke tonight if he wants to outplay both Sefolosha and Harden.

Advantage: Minnesota

Small Forward:

Ryan Gomes vs. Kevin Durant

I’m hoping that Durant will be so traumatized by being stuffed by Manu Ginobili on an attempted fast break throw down, that he may be too distraught to find any part of his game whatsoever tonight. Then, and only then, would Gomes/Wilkins ever have an advantage over Durant.

Advantage: Oklahoma City

Power Forward:

Al Jefferson vs. Jeff Green

Jefferson has still been struggling as of late. He’s scored only 10 points in four straight games and only recorded double digit rebounds once in the past five games. The case of Jeff Green is quite the contrary. He is averaging 17 points and over eight rebounds a game for the past five games. The only difference maker here could be Kevin Love, but it’s never known whether Love can come off the bench and put up 20 points when needed. And that may very well be needed tonight.

Advantage: Oklahoma City

Center:

Ryan Hollins vs. Nenad Kristic

Hollins had a surprisingly good game on Wednesday, considering how awful he’s played for almost two weeks now. The resurgence of Darko Milicic though is what has gotten this team back into fighting shape. Who would’ve thought that a legit 7-footer would improve the play of a team, most notably Kevin Love? Oh, and as for Kristic, he’s simply an afterthought.

Advantage: Minnesota