National Basketball Association
Preview
Minnesota at Golden State
When: 8:30 PM ET, Sunday, December 8, 2024
Where: Chase Center, San Francisco, California

The Minnesota Timberwolves seek a repeat performance when they go for a second win in three days over the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco on Sunday night.

In the first game of the back-to-back set, the Timberwolves beat the Warriors 107-90 on the road Friday night. Anthony Edwards finished with a game-high 30 points, one of five Minnesota players who scored in double figures.

The Timberwolves also had a successful three-day visit to San Francisco last season, when they won 116-110 on Nov. 12 and 104-101 on Nov. 14.

Minnesota was sloppy on offense in the win Friday, committing 21 turnovers, the second-most it has had in a win this season. But the Timberwolves made up for it by forcing Golden State into a season-high 22.

Minnesota coach Chris Finch credited his players' ability to focus on defense despite their offensive struggles.

"We didn't hang our head when things weren't going our way. We got guarding, which is important," Finch said. "Survived a lot of their runs. When you turn it over, they make you pay. The guys did a great job of just staying pretty calm."

The Timberwolves did more than just force turnovers. With big men Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid anchoring the middle, Minnesota blocked six shots and affected many others, helping to hold Golden State to 39.0 percent shooting from the floor.

Though he credited the Minnesota defense, Warriors coach Steve Kerr insisted his club's biggest offensive issue was unfamiliarity.

After Golden State's 99-93 home win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday, Kerr replaced Buddy Hield with Stephen Curry, who sat out the victory to rest his knees, in the starting lineup and had Draymond Green come off the bench in his first game back from injury. Moses Moody missed the game due to an injury and Andrew Wiggins didn't return after halftime because of a troublesome ankle.

"We're mixing and matching," Kerr said. "The reason for starting differently was to try to help the second unit get organized with Draymond. But we need some more practice time; we've got to get our act together. We were much better offensively the first couple weeks of the season, and last couple of weeks we've been struggling. Which is why I've been searching lineup-wise."

If Kerr adjusts the lineup Sunday, it won't be because Green was upset about getting benched in favor of Jonathan Kuminga. Green had one of his best games -- 10 points, nine rebounds, six assists and two steals in 26 minutes -- and afterward gave the move a thumbs-up.

"Of course I'm OK with it," Green said. "I have been one of (Kuminga's) biggest fans since he's been here. And so if he has an opportunity to start, you can't be hypocritical. I want to see him do well. So if his opportunity goes through me, then it is what it is. He earned the opportunity. If it works, then you continue with it."

Kuminga, who had a career-best 33 points in the win over Houston, was held to 13 points in the loss to Minnesota.

--Field Level Media

Stats and Records
Team Comparison
  W/L Strk Home Away Day Night Div Conf
Minnesota 12-10 W4 7-4 5-6 1-1 11-9 2-2 9-7
Golden State 13-9 L1 6-4 7-5 0-1 13-8 0-3 10-7
Last Meeting
Minnesota Golden State
Date Away Home Pts Reb FG% Pts Reb FG%
12/6/24 MIN 107 GS 90 107 48 45.5 90 41 39.0
Player Stats
Previous Matchup
Points Player Total FG% FTM
Minnesota A. Edwards 30 61.1 4
Golden State S. Curry 23 35.3 8
Rebounds Player Total Off Def
Minnesota R. Gobert 11 2 9
Golden State D. Green 9 1 8
Assists Player  
Minnesota A. Edwards 9
Golden State D. Green 6
Season
Points Player Total FG% FTM
Minnesota A. Edwards 643 44.7 82
Golden State S. Curry 428 43.9 69
Rebounds Player Total Off Def
Minnesota R. Gobert 273 80 193
Golden State K. Looney 179 76 103
Assists Player  
Minnesota D. DiVincenzo 97
Golden State D. Green 134
Quickchart Matchup
Minnesota Minnesota Off vs  Golden State Golden State Defense
Minnesota Off vs Golden State - Points For 110.7 Points For
Minnesota Off vs Golden State - Points Against 109.3 Points Against
Minnesota - FG% 46.5 FG%
Golden State - FG% 43.7 FG%
Minnesota - Reb 42.4 Reb
Golden State - Reb 46.1 Reb
Golden State Golden State Off vs  Minnesota Minnesota Defense
Golden State Off vs Minnesota - Points For 114.1 Points For
Golden State Off vs Minnesota - Points Against 106.6 Points Against
Golden State - FG% 45.3 FG%
Minnesota - FG% 45.8 FG%
Golden State - Reb 48.8 Reb
Minnesota - Reb 42.1 Reb