Golden State @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 25, 2018 ) Minnesota 113, Golden State 126

The Minnesota Timberwolves are closer to 10th in the Western Conference than they are to third, and a recent slide is to blame. The Timberwolves will try to avoid a fourth consecutive setback when they host the depleted Golden State Warriors on Sunday.

Minnesota looked like a safe bet for the No. 3 spot when Jimmy Butler was in the lineup but are 2-3 since their All-Star swingman went down with a knee injury that will keep him out until next month, and a 117-109 loss to the Boston Celtics on Thursday highlighted some of the problems with the defense in Butler's absence. "We have to understand how hard and physical you have to play," Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters. "That's the difference right now in us being a really good team and a good team. I looked at them and the physicality with which they play, it's the difference. We can score. We score plenty. It's the defense. Until we get figured out, it's going to be tough." The Warriors didn't look great on the defensive end either in falling for the first time since the All-Star break with a 125-108 loss at Portland on Friday. The defending champions were playing the second night of a back-to-back against the Blazers without star Stephen Curry (ankle), who is also not making the trip to Minnesota.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (51-15): Golden State is battling the Houston Rockets for the top seed in the West and sits a half-game back after both teams fell on Friday. All-Star Kevin Durant is trying to carry the team in Curry's absence and followed up a 37-point effort in a win over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday with 40 on 12-of-21 shooting in Portland. "They called my number tonight and I just tried to make the right play," Durant, who recorded a triple-double in a win over the Timberwolves in the last meeting on Jan. 25, told reporters after Friday's setback.

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (38-29): Minnesota isn't missing much offensively in Butler's absence thanks to the continued progression of forward Nemanja Bjelica. The 29-year-old scored a career-high 30 points in Thursday's setback while going 11-of-16 from the floor, including 6-of-9 from beyond the arc. "I opened the game in a good rhythm," Bjelica told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "I scored a couple of threes, and my teammates were looking for me. Obviously, I'm playing more and more, spending more time on the court. I'm trying to be aggressive. I have more opportunity to score."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Warriors SF Andre Iguodala (wrist), PF David West (arm) and PF Jordan Bell (ankle) sat out Friday and are all day-to-day.

2. Timberwolves SG Jamal Crawford is 1-of-14 from 3-point range over the last three games.

3. Golden State averaged 125.5 points in a pair of wins over Minnesota earlier this season.

PREDICTION: Warriors 120, Timberwolves 116