Game Preview: Timberwolves v Warriors

The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Golden State Warriors at Target Center on
Friday. The Warriors (52-12) are dealing with adversity for the first time all
season, as they’ve lost three of their last five games. It comes as no surprise
either, as it directly correlates with the Kevin Durant leg injury. It has
boosted Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson’s numbers, but it’s hurt this team on
both sides of the ball. Many don’t realize it, but Durant has turned into one of
the best rim protectors in the league as a de facto big man. The offensive
numbers continue to be off the charts though, as Golden State ranks first in
points scored, offensive efficiency, field goal percentage and assists. That’s
an amazing laundry list and it doesn’t even consider the fact that the Warriors
rank second in defensive efficiency. As long as they can maintain that
production throughout the playoffs, Golden state will remain the favorite to win
it all. The Timberwolves (26-37) are making one final push at a playoff berth,
as they are 7-4 across their last 11 games. The last three losses are nothing to
be concerned with either, as they came at the hands of the Houston Rockets,
Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs. What this run has done is got them
within three games of the Denver Nuggets for the eight-seed in the West. This is
the scariest bunch of the teams fighting too, as Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony
Towns are a duo no one wants to face. The defense is what’s really turned
around, as Minnesota ranks fourth in defensive efficiency across their last 10
games. If they can continue to do that for seasons to come, they will be a
serious threat for the next decade.