The Timberwolves were already down one of their two All-Star centers headed into their game against Oklahoma City.
Then for most of their 135-128 loss to the Thunder, they had to get by without both.
In playing their second game since losing Karl-Anthony Towns to a right calf injury, the Wolves lost Rudy Gobert to an ejection for a flagrant foul-two in the second quarter.
The team that is trying to prove it can win in the NBA by going super big had to try to win while going super small. It couldn't do it.
After a 44-point third quarter, the Wolves couldn't keep pace with the Thunder — nor overcome what they thought were some unfair whistles — in the fourth.