Mitchell HansenWeb Editorial AssociateTwitter
7 p.m., Target Center Where to Watch: Fox Sports North Where to Listen: 830 WCCO
The Minnesota Timberwolves will be faced with another tough task on Friday night as the Golden State Warriors come to town.
The Wolves come into the game with a record of 26-37 overall and currently sit in 11th place in the Western Conference, trailing the Denver Nuggets and the No. 8 seed by 2.5 games.
The Warriors enter with a Western Conference best 52-12 record and hold a two-game lead over the San Antonio Spurs for the top spot in the conference.
A few tidbits entering Friday’s matchup:
- The Wolves are winners in seven of their last 11 games coming into Friday’s game.
- Since the All-Star break, Minnesota holds the best defensive rating in the NBA (97.3).
- The Warriors are kicking off the first game of a back-to-back in Minneapolis. Golden State has lost three of its last five games entering Friday’s contest.
Coming Off Of…
Minnesota is coming off of a 107-91 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night in Minneapolis.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the way for the Wolves, finishing with 29 points and 14 rebounds. Andrew Wiggins had 20 points, Ricky Rubio had 15 points, 12 assists and six rebounds, Shabazz Muhammad had 17 points and six rebounds in his first start of the season, Kris Dunn had eight points, and Tyus Jones added seven points and three assists.
Golden State is coming off of a 99-86 loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday in Oakland.
Klay Thompson had 25 points and six rebounds, Stephen Curry had 23 points, six assists and five rebounds, and Draymond Green had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Warriors.
Last Matchup
The last matchup between Minnesota and Golden State came on Dec. 11 in Minneapolis. The Warriors came away with the 116-108 win.
In that game, Towns had 25 points and 18 rebounds, Zach LaVine had 25 points and four assists, Wiggins had 25 points and five rebounds, Gorgui Dieng had 11 points and six rebounds, and Rubio had eight points, six assists and five rebounds for the Wolves.
For the Warriors, Thompson had 30 points and six rebounds, Kevin Durant had 22 points and eight rebounds, Curry had 22 points and nine assists, and Green had 18 points and five rebounds.
Friday’s game will be the third of four matchups between the two teams this season. The final game will come on April 4 in Oakland.
Key Matchup: Ricky Rubio vs. Steph Curry
It should be an entertaining matchup at the point guard position on Friday night between Minnesota’s Ricky Rubio and Golden State’s Steph Curry.
Rubio has played some great basketball for the Wolves as of late. In his last 10 games, Rubio is averaging 11.6 points, 11 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game.
In his sixth NBA season, Rubio is averaging 9.2 points, 8.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.
Curry is having another stellar year for Golden State, averaging 24.9 points, 6.3 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game in his eighth NBA season.
Injuries
Golden State: Durant (knee) is out.
Minnesota: Brandon Rush (illness) is probable. LaVine (knee) and Nikola Pekovic (ankle) are out.
Probable Starters
Golden State: PG – Curry, SG – Thompson, SF – McCaw, PF – Green, C – Pachulia
Minnesota: PG – Rubio, SG – Rush, SF – Wiggins, PF – Dieng, C – Towns
7 p.m., Target Center Where to Watch: Fox Sports North Where to Listen: 830 WCCO
The Minnesota Timberwolves will be faced with another tough task on Friday night as the Golden State Warriors come to town.
The Wolves come into the game with a record of 26-37 overall and currently sit in 11th place in the Western Conference, trailing the Denver Nuggets and the No. 8 seed by 2.5 games.
The Warriors enter with a Western Conference best 52-12 record and hold a two-game lead over the San Antonio Spurs for the top spot in the conference.
A few tidbits entering Friday’s matchup:
- The Wolves are winners in seven of their last 11 games coming into Friday’s game.
- Since the All-Star break, Minnesota holds the best defensive rating in the NBA (97.3).
- The Warriors are kicking off the first game of a back-to-back in Minneapolis. Golden State has lost three of its last five games entering Friday’s contest.
Coming Off Of…
Minnesota is coming off of a 107-91 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night in Minneapolis.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the way for the Wolves, finishing with 29 points and 14 rebounds. Andrew Wiggins had 20 points, Ricky Rubio had 15 points, 12 assists and six rebounds, Shabazz Muhammad had 17 points and six rebounds in his first start of the season, Kris Dunn had eight points and Tyus Jones added seven points and three assists.
Golden State is coming off of a 99-86 loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday in Oakland.
Klay Thompson had 25 points and six rebounds, Stephen Curry had 23 points, six assists and five rebounds and Draymond Green had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Warriors.
Last Matchup
The last matchup between Minnesota and Golden State came on Dec. 11 in Minneapolis. The Warriors came away with the 116-108 win.
In that game, Towns had 25 points and 18 rebounds, Zach LaVine had 25 points and four assists, Wiggins had 25 points and five rebounds, Gorgui Dieng had 11 points and six rebounds and Rubio had eight points, six assists and five rebounds for the Wolves.
For the Warriors, Thompson had 30 points and six rebounds, Kevin Durant had 22 points and eight rebounds, Curry had 22 points and nine assists and Green had 18 points and five rebounds.
Friday’s game will be the third of four matchups between the two teams this season. The final game will come on April 4in Oakland.
Key Matchup: Ricky Rubio vs. Steph Curry
It should be an entertaining matchup at the point guard position on Friday night between Minnesota’s Ricky Rubio and Golden State’s Steph Curry.
Rubio has played some great basketball for the Wolves as of late. In his last 10 games, Rubio is averaging 11.6 points, 11 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game.
In his sixth NBA season, Rubio is averaging 9.2 points, 8.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.
Curry is having another stellar year for Golden State, averaging 24.9 points, 6.3 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game in his eighth NBA season.
Injuries
Golden State: Durant (knee) is out.
Minnesota: Brandon Rush (illness) is probable. Zach LaVine (knee) and Nikola Pekovic (ankle) are out.
Probable Starters
Golden State: PG – Curry, SG – Thompson, SF – McCaw, PF – Green, C – Pachulia
Minnesota: PG – Rubio, SG – Rush, SF – Wiggins, PF – Dieng, C – Towns