Scouting Report: Wolves (20-21) at Warriors (26-17) | Jan. 24, 2014
Timberwolves at Warriors | 9:30 PM — Oracle Arena
Where to Watch: Fox Sports North, NBATV
Where to Listen: 830 WCCO-AM
It’s not ideal to make a second-half push on the road against the Golden State Warriors (26-17), but hey, the Wolves (20-21) have to make that push sometime.
There might be no better time as the team is riding high after Thursday night’s announcement that Kevin Love will start in the 2014 NBA All-Star team for the Western Conference. The numbers don’t lie, and what Love had done this season has been pretty spectacular.
Golden State guard Stephen Curry was also named a starter.
Things don’t get any easier for the Wolves as they take on the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night.
Last Meeting
The Wolves and Warriors have met up just one time this season back on Nov. 6 at the Target Center. The Warriors came away with a 106-93 win. Klay Thompson led Golden State with 30 points, while shooting 6-of-9 from the 3-point line. David Lee added 22 points and 15 rebounds. Andre Iguodala pitched in with 20, while Harrison Barnes had a bench-high 14 points.
Kevin Love led the Wolves with 25 points, 16 rebounds and six assists. He shot just 10-of-25 from the field, though. Kevin Martin added 23 points, while Corey Brewer scored 18. Brewer did, though, limit Stephen Curry to just eight points.
Wolves Minute
Jan. 24, 2014
[swf file="https://i.cdn.turner.com/dr/nba/teamsites-nbateams/release/timberwolves/sites/timberwolves/files/content/audio/2014/01/wolves_minute_140124.mp3" player="onepixelout"]
This Week’s Results
Minnesota is coming off of a 112-97 road win against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday. All five starters scored 11 or more points, along with one bench player. Love led the Wolves with 19 points, 13 rebounds and eight rebounds. Brewer pitched in with 19 points and two blocks. Pekovic and Martin both scored 18 points. Pekovic also hauled in nine rebounds. J.J. Barea led the bench with 15 points. Ricky Rubio had the 12th 4X5 of his career, finishing with 11 points, 13 assists, five steals and five rebounds.
The Wolves are 2-3 in their last five games.
The Warriors lost at home on Monday against the Indiana Pacers, 102-94.
Curry led Golden State with 24 points and nine assists. Lee added 20 points and 12 rebounds. Andrew Bogut scored 10 and hauled in 13 rebounds. Thompson had 17 points and made five 3-pointers in the process.
The Warriors are 2-3 in their last five games as well.
What To Watch: Ricky Rubio vs. Stephen Curry
After slumping for a little while, Rubio sure has picked it up as of late. He had one of the best games of his season against Utah on Tuesday. He played against Utah at home on Saturday as well, and had nine assists and eight rebounds. Rubio leads the league with 2.66 steals per game this season. He might not be able to score like Curry, but he has just as much as an impact on his team with his defense, and playmaking abilities.
Curry is averaging 23.5 points and 9.2 assists per game (2nd in NBA). He’s scored 24 or more points in his last four games.
For the Wolves to take down the Warriors, a lot will be keeping Curry away from the 3-point line. He’s hit multiple 3-pointers in seven straight games.
Injury Report
Guard Alexey Shved (nose) is questionable. Guard Kevin Martin (finger) is probable.
Center Andrew Bogut (knee) and forward David Lee (shoulder) are questionable. Centers Jermaine O’Neal (wrist) and Festus Ezeli (knee) are out indefinitely.
Probable Starters