Timberwolves at Warriors
The Minnesota Timberwolves expect disgruntled superstar Jimmy Butler to suit up on Friday, but they might not need him. The Timberwolves will look for another turn-back-the-clock performance from former MVP Derrick Rose when they continue their road trip by visiting the defending champion Golden State Warriors on Friday.
Butler, who is still actively seeking a trade out of Minnesota, sat out to rest on Wednesday and watched Rose explode for a career-high 50 points in a 128-125 win at Utah. "It means a lot, man," Rose told reporters. "It shows we’re coming together as a team. We’re getting close. And it’s touching, bro. Just being in this position. It still didn’t even hit me yet. Words can’t explain how I feel right now. It’s been a while." The Warriors have several players on the roster capable of scoring 50 points and are looking like the best team in the NBA again while riding a six-game winning streak. Golden State shooting guard Klay Thompson exploded for an NBA-record 14 3-pointers and 52 points in a 149-124 win at Chicago on Monday but only needed to hit one 3-pointer and score 18 on Wednesday as Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and company took over in a 131-121 triumph over the New Orleans Pelicans.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, FS North (Minnesota), NBCS Bay Area (Golden State)
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (4-4): Rose was supposed to be a useful bench piece for Minnesota after a series of injuries knocked him off the peak that led to an MVP Award in 2011, but the 30-year-old is still capable of leaving his teammates in awe. "D-Rose is the man," center Karl-Anthony Towns told reporters. "The legend. Myth. Vintage. It was numbing. I never realized something like that in my life. The man was just out there floating. It seemed like he couldn’t do no wrong." Rose went 19-of-31 from the floor in 41 minutes on Wednesday and knocked down four 3-pointers - one shy of his total from the first seven games.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (8-1): Green will rarely be the player leading Golden State in scoring, but his plethora of skills was on display Wednesday, when he collected 16 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. "I thought he was probably the best player on the floor tonight," Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters of Green. "I know other guys had some big point totals and all that, but this was not a very clean game for us and when the game gets a little grimy that seems to be when Draymond is at his best. We needed his grit, his rebounding, his defense and he came through in a big way." Green takes a lot of pride in his work at the defensive end and told reporters after the win that his goal this season is to win Defensive Player of the Year for the second time.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Timberwolves PG Jeff Teague (knee) sat out Wednesday and is day-to-day.
2. Warriors PG Shaun Livingston (foot) sat out the last three contests and is questionable to return on Friday.
3. Golden State took six of the last eight meetings.