If ever the Timberwolves were going to have a game set up on a silver platter for them to win, it was Friday night in Oklahoma City.
The Thunder, already below .500, came into the night with the league-minimum eight players available. One of the players out was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the dynamic point guard who leads the Thunder in scoring and assists.
The Wolves were without Karl-Anthony Towns and other contributors like Juancho Hernangomez and Jarrett Culver.
But they still had Malik Beasley and D'Angelo Russell, two players who should be capable of carrying the Wolves to a win in such a situation.