The Minnesota Timberwolves take on the Golden State Warriors in Western Conference clash at the Chase Center in San Francisco. This is the fourth meeting between these teams this season. Golden State has won two of the three meetings.
Timberwolves vs. Warriors injuries: 3 Questionable, 4 Out
The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors will square off in an effort to move further away from the NBA’s play-in tournament.
When these teams meet for the fourth and final time this season, playoff positioning, the season series, and tiebreakers all come into play.
The Warriors (39-36) and Timberwolves (37-37) began the weekend on opposite sides of the play-in line, with Golden State sixth and Minnesota seventh in the West.
If the Warriors were to win on Sunday, they would be virtually assured of finishing ahead of the Timberwolves in the Western Conference.
It would give the Warriors the season series tiebreaker and put them 2.5 games ahead with 6 to play.
A huge victory over the 76ers just occurred for them (120-112). In 38 minutes of action, Stephen Curry scored 29 points (10-18 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 7-8 FT), grabbed eight boards, and dished out three assists.
Curry has averaged 30.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in 35.6 minutes over his past 11 games since returning from a month-long absence due to a leg injury.
With both teams entering Sunday’s action at 25-20, a Timberwolves victory would cut their deficit to a half game while also evening the season series and giving Minnesota an edge on the second playoff tiebreaker.
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The Timberwolves have won two in a row, and Wednesday’s 125-124 home thriller against the Atlanta Hawks was arguably the most significant game of the season so far.
The Timberwolves avoided a 38th loss, which would have dropped them at least two spots in the Western standings, and also welcomed back Karl-Anthony Towns after he missed 51 games with a strained right calf.
Towns played 26 minutes and scored 22 points, the final two coming on a pair of free throws with 3.6 seconds left to seal the victory.
Chris Finch, head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, has said that Karl-Anthony Towns will be on a minutes restriction for the team’s upcoming games. This could mean that Towns sits out one or both halves of a back-to-back set that concludes on Monday in Sacramento.
There has been no word on which game Towns might miss, but given the closeness of the Timberwolves and Warriors in the standings, that one stands out more.
- Anthony Edwards could return from ankle injury
Anthony Edwards has missed the last three games for the Minnesota Vikings with a sprained right ankle. He was given the all-clear to return to practice on Friday, but he missed the day due to illness, making his status for Sunday’s game against the Golden State Warriors doubtful.
Rudy Gobert hasn’t been in great shape as of late, and he may not be able to play in this game. Sooner rather than later, I hope he finds his footing again.
Meanwhile, the Warriors are still without Andrew Wiggins due to personal reasons, but they may get to see Gary Payton II, who was acquired from the Trail Blazers in February, make his debut. Payton is questionable for Saturday’s game against Minnesota due to an adductor injury.
On Saturday, Payton worked out with the Warriors and said he felt ready to play for the first time since the Trail Blazers-Warriors game on February 8.
