Wolves 108, Thunder 116

Wolves record: 15-62

Box Score

From the Associated Press: 

Kevin Durant scored 40 points to break the franchise record for scoring in a season and the Oklahoma City Thunder fought off a spirited charge by the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 116-108 victory on Sunday night.

Less than 24 hours after clinching the franchise's first playoff berth in five years, the Thunder built a 25-point lead in the first half, but then had to hang on as Minnesota moved back within six in the final 10 minutes.

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The Thunder's 43 first-quarter points were also the most given up by Minnesota in the opening period this season, and matched the most by a Timberwolves opponent in any quarter.

From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:

"He hit me with a Darko pass," Flynn said about one of Jefferson's three assists. "It's tough for everybody learning this system, knowing what you can and can't do. When Al sees Darko make a pass like that, he sees what's possible. It's definitely rubbing off."

Said Jefferson: "I see myself looking at passes now that I never would have looked at before. [Milicic] helps me open my eyes up to the game because he can pass, he can score, he does all the right things on offense. I see the things he does in games. Now, I think I'm a lot better making the right decisions."

Milicic accompanied the team but did not play. He suffered what Wolves coach Kurt Rambis termed a "mild concussion" in Saturday night's second quarter, when he was inadvertently elbowed by Heat forward Udonis Haslem.

From Randy Renner/NBA.com:

Oklahoma City finished the game at 51.1%, and the Thunder are now 20-0 when making at least half their shots. The Timberwolves shot 47.4% and were led by 22 points from both Jonny Flynn and Ryan Gomes. Corey Brewer added 18 and Al Jefferson contributed 16.

OKC outrebounded the Timberwolves 47-34, with 15 of those coming on the offensive glass giving the Thunder an 18-8 advantage in second chance points.

The T-Wolves now have lost 24 of their last 26 games while the Thunder have won four in a row, six of their last seven and 24 of their last 31 to secure a trip to the playoffs. Now they're working on getting a higher seed.