Best in West: First-place Timberwolves, Thunder meet

(Photo credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports)
Monday's Western Conference showdown between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the host Oklahoma City Thunder was going to be critical regardless.

The teams have battled near the top of the conference standings all season. Now that Monday's showdown has arrived, it comes with the pair of upstarts tied for first place.

While both have been riding high for much of the season, t