MINNEAPOLIS — Enes Kanter scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds off the bench to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 126-123 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on Wednesday.
The Thunder have now won 9 of 10 overall and extended their winning streak over the Timberwolves to 10 games. Oklahoma City has won 24 of the past 27 meetings against Minnesota.
Despite the loss, Minnesota played one of its finer games of the season, shooting 55.6 percent from the floor; six players posted double figures, including three with more than 20 points, led by guard Zach LaVine’s season-high 35 off the bench. LaVine didn’t miss much down the stretch, finishing 14 of 17 from the floor, including 5 of 8 from beyond the arc.
The game featured 19 lead changes and was tied 14 other times but the Wolves couldn’t overcome Kanter, who scored 20 points or more for the sixth time this season. Seven of his rebounds came on the offensive end, as the Thunder had an 18-14 edge in second-chance points.
Guard Russell Westbrook chipped in with 24 points and dished out 15 assists, coming two rebounds short of a triple-double. Forward Kevin Durant added 27 points, scoring at least 20 for the 33rd consecutive game, the longest active streak in the NBA.
Minnesota trailed by two points with under two minutes to play before Durant took over, burying a 3-pointer to extend the lead to five. After LaVine answered with a long jumper, Durant went hard to the lane with a floater over Wolves center Karl-Anthony Towns to keep it a two-possession game.
LaVine’s three-point play got Minnesota to within four late and the Wolves had a chance to get within one, but his open 3-pointer came up short.
Thunder guard Dion Waiters added 16 points and guard Anthony Morrow had 10 in a relief role.
Wolves forward Gorgui Dieng finished with 21 points, starting in place of an injured Kevin Garnett. Towns had 19 points to go along with 13 rebounds and three blocks.
NOTES: Thunder G Cameron Payne left the game in the second quarter with concussion-like symptoms and did not return. … Thunder F Josh Huestis was inactive after being called up from the NBA Development League earlier in the day. … Timberwolves F Kevin Garnett did not play because of lingering soreness in his right knee. … Timberwolves G Kevin Martin missed the game with a sore right wrist. … Oklahoma City will open a three-game homestand against the Houston Rockets on Friday. … Minnesota will start a four-game road trip the same night when they play the Utah Jazz.