Warriors vs. Wolves how to watch: Live stream, TV, matchups, line, odds, picks
Golden State's road trip continues with a stop in Minnesota to take on the Timberwolves
After losing soundly to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, the Warriors will try to bounce back Sunday against the Timberwolves. Golden State defeated Minnesota 115-102 at Oracle Arena in November in their only other meeting this season.
How to watch
When: Sunday, 7 p.m. ET
Who: Minnesota Timberwolves
Where: Target Center; Minneapolis
TV: League Pass
Streaming: League Pass
Line: Warriors (-8.5)
What to watch for
Warriors just don't lost back-to-back games: Golden State hasn't lost consecutive regular-season games since Steve Kerr took control in 2014. And the Warriors typically respond in a big way after a loss.
Like after Golden State's 132-127 double-overtime loss to the Rockets on Dec. 1, when the Warriors beat the Suns by 29 points two nights later . The Timberwolves have played the Warriors tough in the past but history is not on their side.
The number of disgusted looks from Tom Thibodeau: The Wolves were expected to improve drastically with the addition of coach Tom Thibodeau but that hasn't materialized yet. Minnesota is getting great performances from Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine but have a 6-17 record to show for it.
Despite the losses, Minnesota is an entertaining team to watch, and among the in-game entertainment is Thibodeau's sideline antics. The ultra-serious Thibodeau always looks disgusted when his team makes a mistake. He will surely be quite expressive against the Warriors.
Golden State's ball movement: Via the Mercury News' Anthony Slater, when the Warriors pass the ball around and rack up assists, they usually win:
Warriors in their 20 wins this season: 32.5 assists, 14.4 turnovers
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 11, 2016
Warriors in their 4 losses this season: 24.0 assists, 19.0 turnovers
If Golden State isn't sharing the ball, that could be a troubling sign.
Key matchups
Kevin Durant vs. Andrew Wiggins: What's not to love in matchup between two of the best scorers in the league?
Wiggins has always been an excellent scorer but he has stepped up his game this season by knocking down 3-pointers at a solid 37.5 percent clip. Durant's scoring still remains unparalleled, yet he has improved on the defensive end with the Warriors. His defense on Wiggins should be interesting to watch.
Karl-Anthony Towns vs. Warriors bigs: There has been no sophomore slump for Karl-Anthony Towns as the reigning Rookie of the Year is averaging a double-double (21.4 points, 10.4 rebounds). Towns' versatility makes him difficult to guard, and after Golden State had trouble with Memphis' Marc Gasol in their previous game, Towns could have a similar impact.
PICK: Warriors (-8.5). With Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns and Zach LaVine, the Timberwolves definitely have some talent. Yet they have been struggling as of late, losing 10 of their last 12. The Wolves also haven't won at home since Nov. 17, so their home court advantage is virtually nonexistent. Golden State likely will be extra amped to play after losing to the Grizzlies, so that's not a positive sign for Minnesota.
















