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.