Timberwolves at Warriors
THE STORY:
One team will end a three-game losing skid when the Minnesota
Timberwolves visit the Golden State Warriors on Monday. Minnesota has
lost five of six games after losing by 16 points to the Sacramento Kings
on Sunday and is 1-4 since standout point guard Ricky Rubio suffered a
season-ending knee surgery. The Warriors are adjusting to life without
high-scoring Monta Ellis, who was sent to the Milwaukee Bucks in a trade
deadline deal.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS North (Timberwolves), CS Bay Area (Warriors)
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (22-24):
Minnesota’s losing streak is causing tempers to boil and resulted in
All-Star forward Kevin Love and reserve guard J.J. Barea exchanging
words during the final quarter of the loss to Sacramento. Love
downplayed the incident afterward. “It’s frustrating but nothing
personal against J.J.,” Love said. “I think we were both frustrated and
took it out on each other when we should have took it out on the other
team. So both of us made mistakes and the both of us feel bad.” The
Timberwolves committed 21 turnovers and were outscored by 16 points in
the second half.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (18-24): Guard Stephen
Curry (ankle) has missed four straight games and Golden State traded
away Ellis so the starting backcourt once again consisted of Nate
Robinson and rookie Klay Thompson in Saturday’s overtime loss to the
Utah Jazz. Robinson scored 19 points and is averaging 17.3 points and
6.0 assists during Curry’s latest injury absence. Thompson had 17 points
for his eight straight double-digit outing and is averaging 19.0 points
while starting the past four games. Recently acquired forward Richard
Jefferson struggled in his Warriors’ debut, scoring only nine points on
2-of-14 shooting. Jefferson missed his final 12 shots.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Golden State has won 13 of the last 17 meetings.
2. The Warriors were outrebounded 65-40 in the loss to Utah and had only three offensive rebounds to the Jazz’s 20.
3. Minnesota center Nikola Pekovic (ankle) missed the Sacramento game and is questionable.