The Oklahoma City Thunder will look to maintain their red-hot streak when they tip off against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night in Minneapolis.
Oklahoma City has won eight of its last nine games, including a 130-107 victory against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Friday. Next is a home-and-home series between the Thunder and Timberwolves, with the teams both flying south after Sunday's game for a rematch Monday in Oklahoma City.
Thunder forward Jalen Williams said he and his teammates have found a rhythm on the court.
"(We're) just growing into a more mature team, understanding what it takes to win before we actually even play the game," Williams said. "A lot of it too was everybody was healthy, so there was a lot of preseason kind of energy going around where we're just running around, having fun.
"We're just growing up."
Minnesota also has played better during the past month, but the Timberwolves have hit a recent snag with three losses in their last four games. They are coming off a 121-115 road loss against the Houston Rockets on Friday.
The Timberwolves' last two losses have come by eight points combined. Four of their past six losses are by two points.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch wants to see his players perform better in close and late situations. He will be looking for his team to hold up under pressure against the Thunder.
"Our issue is we've got to win close games," Finch said. "I don't know who we are in clutch games. We've got to be better.
"Our shot selection, decision-making in clutch games has got to improve on the offensive end. Defensively, we've got to rebound, and we've got to not foul."
Anthony Edwards leads the Timberwolves with 27.6 points per game. He is shooting 43.9 percent overall and 41.1 percent from 3-point range.
Second-leading scorer Julius Randle (18.9 ppg) is out with a groin injury, which leaves Naz Reid (14.6) and Jaden McDaniels (11.6) to round out the team's top scorers.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder in scoring (32.2 ppg) and assists (6.1). Williams is second with 20.9 ppg and Chet Holmgren ranks third at 15.1 points in 14 games (he returned four games ago after missing nearly three months with a fractured hip.
Holmgren's return has allowed Thunder coach Mark Daigneault to use a "two-big" lineup that pairs the 7-foot-1 Holmgren with 7-footer Isaiah Hartenstein. For much of the season, the Thunder have relied on a smaller lineup with only one big man on the court.
"Defensively, it's going to take care of itself," Gilgeous-Alexander said of the two-big lineup. "But offensively, we have to be pretty strategic and specific in our attacks. ...
"Usually, if it's four guards and one big, it's a little bit faster out there. Having two bigs is naturally going to be a little bit slower and just a little bit less space. But thankfully, Chet can shoot. Being more intentional in our attacks is going to be big for us."
This is the third of four games between the teams during the regular season.
The Thunder won the first matchup 113-105 on their home court Dec. 31. Minnesota won the next game 116-101 on its home court Feb. 13.
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The Miami Heat have continued to strike out on key free agents throughout the 2025 NBA offseason. Despite pulling off a blockbuster 3-team trade with the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz to acquire star scorer Norman Powell, the franchise has yet to add another crucial option from the open market, including future Hall of Fame inductees such as Damian Lillard and Chris Paul. The Los Angeles Lakers' stunning signing of 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart on Sunday marked yet another missed opportunity to sign a game-changer at the guard position. Fortunately for Heat team president Pat Riley and the franchise's front office, recent updates from Forbes' Evan Sidery have indicated that the franchise is interested in an energetic defender with NBA Finals D.N.A., Gary Payton II. "Gary Payton II has generated recent free agent interest from the (Milwaukee) Bucks, Heat, (Los Angeles) Lakers, (Phoenix) Suns, and also a potential return to the (Golden State) Warriors," Sidery shared via X on Tuesday afternoon. "Payton is one of the best remaining on-ball defenders in free agency." At 32 years old, Payton II remains one of the most intriguing players left on the open market. The 2022 NBA champion guard has developed into a premier all-around defensive force, and plenty of contending teams would love to pry the 6-foot-2 game-wrecker away from the Golden State Warriors this offseason. In 62 appearances and 11 starts for the Warriors in 2024-25, Payton II contributed 6.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.8 steals while connecting on 57.4% of his attempts from the field in just 15.0 minutes. The springy defender possesses unrelenting hustle and grit, making him one of the league's toughest one-on-one matchups for even the deadliest of on-ball scorers at either guard position. By prospectively signing the experienced, uber-athletic guard, the Heat could form one of the deadliest defensive backcourts in the Association by pairing he and Davion Mitchell together to lead the team's bench rotation.
Jimmy Graham is calling it a career. The veteran tight end confirmed a report from John DeShazier of the Saints website that he’s indeed hanging up his cleats. After sitting out the 2022 campaign, Graham returned to New Orleans for the 2023 season. After hauling in four touchdowns that season, the veteran wouldn’t commit to the 2024 campaign and ultimately didn’t end up joining a team. Still, the tight end avoided an official retirement announcement until now. Graham was one of the most productive receiving tight ends during his early days with the Saints. Between the 2011 and 2013 seasons, the former third-round pick averaged 90 catches for 1,169 yards and 12 touchdowns per season. His numbers slowly declined as he approached his age-30 campaign, but he remained productive in stops with the Seahawks and Packers. Following a two-year stop in Chicago, Graham sat out the 2022 season before reuniting with the Saints for the 2023 campaign. Graham will finish his career having hauled in 719 receptions for 8,545 yards and 89 touchdowns. He also amassed over $82M in career earnings.
One question remains after New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu announced his retirement. How long until Canton calls? On Tuesday, the 12-year NFL veteran revealed he was retiring, effective immediately, ending the New Orleans native's legendary football career. In a statement published to social media, the three-time first-team All-Pro wrote, "As I hang up my cleats, I'm filled with gratitude as I close this chapter of my life and officially retire from the game that's shaped me in every way. "From my first snap in college to my final play in the NFL, this journey has been nothing short of a blessing." He's a surefire first-ballot Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame honoree, breaking out while at LSU (2010-11). During his freshman and sophomore seasons, he forced 11 fumbles with eight recoveries, four interceptions and four total touchdowns while finishing fifth in Heisman voting in 2011. Mathieu was dismissed from the team in 2012 after failing multiple drug tests and then was arrested on marijuana charges, but he didn't allow that to define his career. Instead, he carved out what could be considered a Pro Football Hall of Fame resume, too. Mathieu ends his professional career with 838 tackles, 100 passes defended and 36 interceptions. In addition to being named first-team All-Pro three times, he received three Pro Bowl honors and was a member of the Hall of Fame All-2010 Team. Mathieu also won a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs in February 2020. Per Mathieu's Pro Football Reference's Hall of Fame Monitor score (65.2), he has a below-average case for enshrinement, with the average Hall of Fame defensive back scoring a 96.93. But players have received a gold jacket with worse scores in the PFR metric, including John Lynch, Eric Allen and Dick LeBeau. While he might have to wait past his first ballot to make it into the Hall of Fame, it would be a shame if Mathieu didn't one day receive his flowers. It certainly helps his case that in addition to being one of the greatest safeties of his generation, Mathieu was, by all accounts, just as outstanding off the field. NewOrleans.Football's Nick Underhill and Arizona Cardinals insider Kyle Odegard, who covered Mathieu when he played for the Cardinals, were among the media members to share fond stories about Mathieu. "One of those guys who really respected the job we do and would take the time to explain the game," Underhill shared. "He an all-world talent and the most accessible, genuine, introspective superstar I've ever met," Odegard wrote. It could take longer than five years, but it should surprise no one if one day Mathieu receives Hall of Fame recognition. He is the Honey Badger, after all. He takes what he wants.
While the 2025 class is preparing to be officially inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., it's worth peeking ahead to see which MLB stars could find their places among baseball's immortals over the next three years. To be elected to the Hall of Fame, players must earn at least 75% of the votes from eligible members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). Only active and honorary members of the BBWAA, who have been active baseball writers for at least 10 years, are eligible to vote. So which players will be elected in the next three years? Here's a best guess. 2026 class Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones A pair of holdovers from this year's ballot will finally get their place in Cooperstown with Beltran earning it in his fifth year and Jones in his ninth. The duo will benefit from a less-heralded first-year class that includes Ryan Braun, Cole Hamels and Alex Gordon. None of this year's rookie members is expected to gather a great deal of support, opening up the door for previous vote-getters to finally get the call. Both Beltran (70.0 bWAR in a 20-year career) and Jones (62.7 in a 17-year career) were close in 2025, with Beltran getting 70.3% of the vote and Jones earning 66.2%. The highest votes after that went to Chase Utley at 39.8%, but it's unlikely he will make a huge jump in the next voting cycle. 2027 class Buster Posey and Chase Utley One of the game's most impactful catchers over this century, Posey, who earned National League Rookie of the Year and MVP honors, should enter the Hall during his first run on the ballot. Other first-year ballot members include Jon Lester, who notched 200 wins in his 16-year MLB career and could gain a strong amount of support. Utley, a six-time All-Star over his 16-year MLB career, will likely benefit from a first- and second-year class that will still need to gather more support as the years go along. 2028 class Jon Lester, Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols The potential for the first-year members of the 2028 ballot to jump straight to Cooperstown will be very interesting to watch. Of particular note are a pair of former St. Louis Cardinals who could enter baseball immortality together in Molina and Pujols. Adding Posey and Molina into Cooperstown in consecutive years will certainly give a tip of the cap to catchers who were at the top of their game for numerous seasons in San Francisco and St. Louis, respectively. Pujols, meanwhile, will be the latest member of the 700-homer club to be inducted. Over the course of 22 seasons, Pujols earned three NL MVP awards and 11 All-Star Game berths. Lester pitched the final 12 games of his career in St. Louis, so the Cardinals fans may include him in the mix as well in what could be a very red-themed induction ceremony. However, Lester's nine seasons in Boston (with two World Series rings) and six seasons with the Chicago Cubs (helping the Cubs finally win a World Series in 2016) stand out much more.