- The Minnesota Timberwolves took a 12 point lead in the first quarter and never looked back against the defending Western Conference champion Oklahoma City, winning 99-93 and improving their record to 13-11. Kevin Love had 28 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists and Nikola Pekovic had 24 points and 10 rebounds. Pekovic has had at least 18 points in 6 straight games and at least 9 rebounds in 5 of 6.
- Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook technically outscored the T-Wolves big duo, each breaking the 30 point barrier, but the difference came in a pint-sized package off the bench. Lightning-quick PG J.J. Barea scored 18 points for Minnesota, including 12 straight at one point as Minnesota fended off a 4th quarter rally from the division leading Thunder. Oklahoma City only managed 7 total points off the bench.
- Things won't get any easier for either team as Minnesota travels to New York to face the leaders of the other conference, the New York Knicks. The Thunder have to travel to Miami to face the next best team in the East and defending NBA Champions, the Miami Heat.
Christmas return for Nash, Stoudemire?
- Former Phoenix Sun teammates Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire technically play for the Lakers and Knicks, respectively but neither has contributed much this season. Nash has a grand total of 9 points in 2 games before he broke his leg and Stoudemire has yet to play this season due to injury (after missing 13 of his team's final 17 games last season as well).
- It's only appropriate though that as the two teams face off on Christmas Day, the fans of those teams would receive a potential gift: the return of their star players. Stoudemire has already mentioned that he thinks he'll be ready to play by Christmas and now Nash additionally has said that a Christmas return is realistic after he finished a full contact practice on Thursday with no issues.
- The teams have gone in opposite directions this season, with New York leading the East (despite no production from Stoudemire) while the Lakers have looked completely lost on offense without Nash to run the show and have basically turned every game into a game of Kobe vs. 5 opponents. Despite the fact that Bryant leads the NBA in scoring (Knick Carmelo Anthony is #2) the Lakers are a disappointing 12-14 and look to kick things into gear with Nash's pending return.
It's hard to imagine that Nash will be the same when he returns...
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