Minnesota Timberwolves vs Golden State Warriors: Betting Odds & Prediction
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The Minnesota Timberwolves (48-22) host the Golden State Warriors (36-33) in this Western Conference clash which will have huge implications for a number of teams in the standings.
Steph Curry will lead his side to take on young star Anthony Edwards in this exciting late season matchup.
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Minnesota Timberwolves
It has been a thrilling season for Timberwolves fans as they watch their team compete at the top of the Western Conference. They have so far exceeded expectations, as they sit third in the standings. All that separates themselves and the top seeded Oklahoma City Thunder is just 1.5 games, though it is a position they too have occupied for long periods throughout the campaign.
Despite the recent loss of all-star Karl-Anthony Towns to a torn meniscus, the Timberwolves have managed to keep afloat in the top three, and have a record of 5-3 in his absence.
In their last game, they responded well to a 115-112 defeat to the Denver Nuggets with a 104-91 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Mike Conley led the way with 21 points. This means that they have won four of their last five and are still well in the hunt for first place.
Although Towns is a big miss, the scoring has been led by guard Edwards. He has impressed with his flashy dunks and blocks, but has contributed in all facets of the game. Averaging 26.5 points and 5.1 assists, he is enjoying a career year in both statistics, highlighting his involvement in both scoring and playmaking. In two victories against the Warriors this season, he has averaged 26.5, so expect him to produce another big performance on Sunday night.
Whilst the offensive prowess of Edwards continues to catch the eye, it is his team’s defense which has been their standout quality. With a defensive rating of 108.3 and 106.5 points allowed, they are the best in the league. They are even stronger at home, allowing just 103 points in 33 games and they use home court to their advantage well, winning 24 of these. Only five teams have a better record at home.
Against a great shooting team like the Golden State Warriors, it is important to not get beat by the three. The hosts have an opponent three-point percentage of 35.1%, which is the fourth best in the NBA. Slowing down the likes of Curry and Klay Thompson, who are notoriously known for their elite talent from deep, could be key to recording victory. They did, however, allow Curry to score 38 points in their last meeting, though he was 5/13 from beyond the arc.
Golden State Warriors
Deep in an intense battle for a play-in place, the Warriors have endured an extremely underwhelming campaign. They currently occupy the tenth seed, 4.5 games behind the Dallas Mavericks in sixth. With just 13 games remaining, the face an uphill battle to avoid the play-in tournament.
As expected, their superstar Curry has been the brightest light in a season of disappointment. He has suffered through injuries, but missed just six games. He has averaged 26.8 points and drains five threes per game. Young forward Jonathan Kuminga has also greatly contributed as the season has progressed, adding 16.3 points per game.
A big talking point had been the underperformance of Klay Thompson. He was struggling to find consistency in his shot and was a detriment to the team. As a result, he lost his place in the starting lineup, but this has seen his displays drastically improve, which in turn has helped his side enhance their record. Ever since the 34-year old was moved to the bench in February, he has averaged 20.1 points per game on an efficient 46.9% from the field and 44.1% from three. This is a huge increase on his numbers when he has started, which stands at 16.6 points per game with a 36.9% three-point percentage.
It is not just the resurgence of Thompson which has helped the Warriors get back on track. The return of Draymond Green from an ‘indefinite’ suspension, which saw him miss 16 games, also marked a shift in intensity, especially on the defensive side. Since he re-entered the lineup in mid-January, Golden State has a record of 18-12. They have been inconsistent as of late though, losing six of their last ten games. This includes a 123-111 defeat to the Indiana Pacers in their last game.
Away from San Francisco, the Warriors have won 18 and lost 14, which is actually better than their home record. In seven road games since the all-star break, they are 5-2. Although, in this period they have only scored 111.4 points per game, which has them 16th in the NBA.
However, this stat is affected by a massive 52-point loss at the Boston Celtics, in which they scored just 88. On the season, this stat improves to 119.1, which is only bettered by the Indiana Pacers. Against the league’s strongest defense, this makes for an intriguing matchup.
Prediction
There will not be much to split these two teams, given the defensive and offensive talent on display.
However, at home, the Timberwolves have an advantage as they look to strengthen their position at the top end of the standings. The Warriors have struggled to stop Edwards in two meetings so far, and the hosts will look to him again to lead the way.
This game will be close throughout, but expect defense to come out on top, with OddsNow backing the Timberwolves to win outright.