Golden State @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 23, 2019 ) Minnesota 104, Golden State 113

The Golden State Warriors will be without shooting guard D'Angelo Russell for the second straight game when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. That's a bad break for Golden State as Russell (shoulder) averaged 41 points in the first two meetings against Minnesota this season, including a career-high 52 on Nov. 8 when the Timberwolves prevailed in overtime.

The Warriors suffered a 117-113 overtime loss against the host San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday for their second straight loss after a season-long four-game winning streak but coach Steve Kerr insists the season isn't a disaster. "We're having a productive season - we're just not having a winning season," Kerr told reporters. "I've enjoyed coaching this team, I just told them that. I enjoy coming in every day and working with these guys because they play hard, they play for each other and they care about that game. So, I'm not too concerned about the record." Minnesota has lost 13 of its last 15 contests but put up a strong road effort before falling 106-104 to the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. The showing came without center Karl-Anthony Towns (missed his eighth straight game with a knee injury) and small forward Andrew Wiggins (out three games with an illness).

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS Bay Area, FS North

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (9-26): The loss to San Antonio raised the club's loss total to its highest in Kerr's six seasons at the helm with last season's 57-25 representing the previous worst campaign. "The first five years were exceptional, they weren't normal," Kerr told reporters. "So I try to look at things from a realistic perspective. What's happening this year is more in line with what generally happens to NBA teams." Golden State's deep collapse began with shooting guard Klay Thompson's major knee injury during last season's NBA Finals, continued with forward Kevin Durant's summer departure in free agency and continued when star guard Stephen Curry suffered a broken hand in the fourth game of this season.

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (12-21): Post player Gorgui Dieng missed a tying 20-foot attempt with less than three seconds remaining as Minnesota pushed the NBA-best Bucks to the brink before falling. "There's a lot of heart in that locker room," Saunders said after the setback. "There's a lot of potential in that locker room too." Point guard Shabazz Napier scored 22 points against the Bucks, two shy of the season-best point total he posted against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Warriors have won 16 of the past 21 meetings, including a split of the two games earlier this season.

2. Minnesota PG Jeff Teague (knee) sat out Wednesday and could miss his second consecutive contest.

3. Golden State C Willie Cauley-Stein (illness) will sit out for the second straight game.

PREDICTION: Warriors 118, Timberwolves 115