Despite their disappointing home losses on Monday night, both the Golden State Warriors and the Minnesota Timberwolves have been playing strong basketball. Since Jimmy Butler joined the team, the Warriors have begun to resemble a contender again. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves are back to full health and are looking more like the team that reached the Western Conference Finals last year. Both teams are trying to avoid the play-in tournament; however, since they are nearly tied in the standings, only one of them will succeed in doing so.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr addressed the workload of superstar Stephen Curry following a loss to the Nuggets. “He’s tired,” Kerr stated. “Steph has been carrying us for a month. He’s been amazing, but he’s tired. We need to ensure he gets some rest; you can see it.” Kerr's acknowledgment of Curry’s physical and mental fatigue raises concerns about Curry's workload, especially as the team aims for the playoffs.
Fortunately, the Warriors managed to rest Curry in their last game, which resulted in a significant win over the Milwaukee Bucks. This victory provided the Warriors with a half-game lead over the Timberwolves. With 13 games remaining and only four of those against teams currently ahead of them in the playoff standings, the Warriors might be able to give Curry additional rest. However, there is a valid concern that they could lose a potentially winnable game without Curry, allowing the Timberwolves to close in on them.
Minnesota Timberwolves have shown a notable improvement since their star power forward, Julius Randle, returned to the lineup. After winning eight of their last nine games, they are now close to catching the Golden State Warriors for the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Their young superstar guard, Anthony Edwards, has been leading the team, scoring 25 or more points in five consecutive games, including an impressive 41-point performance against the Utah Jazz on Sunday.
However, despite Edwards' outstanding play, their recent loss to the Indiana Pacers at home highlighted some of the challenges the team has faced this season. The trade for Randle may have underscored the importance of the chemistry between Karl-Anthony Towns and Edwards. Although this duo has improved recently, the Timberwolves would prefer to avoid a play-in scenario that could jeopardize their chances of making the playoffs if things take a turn for the worse.
Both teams have reasons to avoid a play-in scenario; however, this situation would be far more detrimental for the Timberwolves than for the veteran Warriors, who have a strong championship history. While the Warriors would also prefer to stay out of the play-in tournament, they would not face the same level of pressure as the Timberwolves. Throughout the season, the Timberwolves have struggled with inconsistency, frequently losing games they should have won. Additionally, they would likely face a tough, veteran Clippers team that appears to be healthy and performing well at the right time.
Commentaires