Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Oklahoma City Thunder (38-10, first in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (29-19, sixth in the Western Conference)Minneapolis; Thursday, 9:30 p.m. ESTBETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Thunder -6; over/under is 225.5BOTTOM LINE: Western Conference foes Minnesota and Oklahoma City will play on Thursday.The Timberwolves are 16-14 in conference play. Minnesota ranks fifth in the Western Conference in rebounding averaging 45.0 rebounds. Rudy Gobert paces the Timberwolves with 11.2 boards.The Thunder are 7-2 against the rest of their division. Oklahoma City has a 2-6 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.The Timberwolves make 48.1% of their shots from the field this season, which is 5.1 percentage points higher than the Thunder have allowed to their opponents (43.0%). The Thunder average 6.4 more points per game (120.5) than the Timberwolves allow (114.1).The teams meet for the third time this season. The Timberwolves won 112-107 in the last meeting on Dec. 20. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 26 points, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 35 points.TOP PERFORMERS: Julius Randle is averaging 22.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists for the Timberwolves. Edwards is averaging 21.3 points over the past 10 games.Chet Holmgren is scoring 17.9 points per game and averaging 8.7 rebounds for the Thunder. Isaiah Joe is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 4-6, averaging 115.3 points, 45.9 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 9.1 steals and 6.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.7 points per game.Thunder: 7-3, averaging 116.8 points, 42.6 rebounds, 24.1 assists, 7.6 steals and 7.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.0 points.INJURIES: Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon Jr.: out (foot).Thunder: Ajay Mitchell: out (hip), Nikola Topic: out (groin), Jalen Williams: out (thigh), Alex Caruso: out (adductor), Cason Wallace: day to day (hip), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

The Boston Celtics now have the third-shortest odds to win the NBA championship, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to distance himself in the MVP race.

Gilgeous-Alexander ended Tuesday's 104-95 victory over New Orleans with 29 points (8-22 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 13-14 FT), six rebounds and four assists over 36 minutes.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points and the short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 104-95 on Tuesday night to avoid their first three-game skid of the season. Chet Holmgren had 20 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks for NBA-best Oklahoma City (38-10), which had lost back-to-back home games for the first time this season. Isaiah Joe added 17 points.

Gilgeous-Alexander has a reputation for getting a friendly whistle at times and Tuesday's game against the Pelicans was one of those times. The 27-year-old point guard had 29 points with 13 of those coming from the free throw line. It's the fifth time he's made at least 10 free throws in a game this month. The Thunder will be in Minnesota on Thursday to take on the Timberwolves.