Golden State is having the weirdest season that we have ever seen for a team that is coming off five consecutive Finals appearances, even odder than the Cavs’ 19-63 season last year in their return to reality. This weird season continues Friday night when the Warriors travel to face the Minnesota Timberwolves. Stephen Curry is going to miss several months. Draymond Green is out. Klay Thompson isn’t playing this year. Kevin Durant is gone. Shawn Livingston retired and Kevon Looney is also hurt. They are starting and playing several rookies right now to make up for the void, and it’s been just so surprising to see them playing like this.
Minnesota, on the other hand, has gone 1-3 in its past four games after a 3-0 start to the year. The Timberwolves went 1-1 in the two games Karl-Anthony Towns was suspended for, and with him back, they hope to go back to being dominant as they were from the beginning. He’ll likely feast going against the smaller Warriors team that won’t be able to stop him around the rim or beyond the arc.
The Timberwolves are 12-point favorites for this game, with the moneyline having the Golden State Warriors +530 and the Minnesota Timberwolves -750.
Just Trying To Compete
The starting backcourt for the Warriors features rookie Jordan Poole, who can hardly hit a shot, and undrafted two-way guard out of Boston College, Ky Bowman. Eric Paschall has been their leader up front, while Willie Cauley-Stein and Glenn Robinson III round out the weirdest starting lineup in the league for the last few games. D’Angelo Russell will be making his return for this one, hoping to give the team a jolt of energy that they need. Alec Burks and Steph’s brother-in-law, Damian Lee, have both scored it well off the bench and brought a lot.
Seeing this team, no matter who’s left, as 12-point underdogs is just wild, and a reminder of how fast things can change in this league. After the Warriors tore teams to shreds for five years, though, nobody feels bad for them.
Back On Track
Having dropped three of four coming in, the Timberwolves will be looking to grab a win in this one to keep the W train rolling, as they also intend to keep the Warriors struggles going. They have had their moments this year, boasting a starting center that is shooting threes like Kyle Korver. Andrew Wiggins is finally starting to show that he can consistently score, with coach Ryan Saunders bringing out the best in him. But this team with Treveon Graham and Robert Covington still ranks near the bottom of the league in scoring defense and will have to be better there.
Shabazz Napier will likely miss another game with his hamstring injury, and they’ll miss his steady presence on the second unit. Jeff Teague also missed the team’s last game, so rookie Jarrett Culver slid in at point guard for his first NBA start.
Timberwolves Get Win
This is no doubt a game Minnesota should be heavily favored in, and for good measure. Bet all of your chips on the Timberwolves.
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