The back-and-forth affair saw 18 lead changes and four ties. The lead see-sawed between the squads in the second half after it looked like early on the Thunder were on their way to another blowout win.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 37 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals to help the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 130-123 on Sunday night to open a home-and-home set.

The Wolves couldn't replicate their last stunning upset performance against the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, falling 130-123 Sunday night at Target Center in Minneapolis in the first of back-to-back games against Oklahoma City.

The short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves had their rotation thinned further when guard Jaylen Clark left their game in the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder because of neck pain. Clark hit his head on the floor after an off-balance layup attempt and an awkward fall.

The short-handed Timberwolves had their rotation thinned further when guard Jaylen Clark left their game against the Thunder because of neck pain from an awkward fall on the court in the third quarter Sunday night.

The short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves had their rotation thinned further when guard Jaylen Clark left their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder because of neck pain from an awkward fall on the court in the third quarter Sunday night.