Two teams that have gotten a nice break thanks to a lackluster showing in the NBA Cup return to action Friday night in San Francisco when the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors duel for the first time this season.
The matchup is expected to renew a rivalry between Olympic teammates Anthony Edwards, who has four 40-point efforts in his last nine games, and Stephen Curry -- likely to return from a strained left quad that has sidelined him since Nov. 26.
Curry burned the Timberwolves for
upwards of 30 points in three straight matchups last season, leading Golden State to wins after Minnesota took the season-series opener. But the Timberwolves had a different defensive look then.
Curry faced fellow veteran Mike Conley three times and former teammate Donte DiVincenzo once as the Timberwolves awaited the healthy return of defensive stopper Jaylen Clark.
The former UCLA standout sat out the first half of his rookie season in 2024 after suffering a torn left Achilles during his final campaign with the Bruins. He then played 40 of the final 46 games last season -- missing the final Golden State matchup even while Conley has been fazed out of his starting role, Clark has helped Minnesota go 15-7 in his appearances, including five straight wins before a 108-105 loss to Phoenix in the club's most recent outing Monday.
The Timberwolves are unbeaten (12-0) when he's played 14 or more minutes.
He credits Conley, who has been demoted to the second unit for 16 of the last 17 games.
"He's one of the best people I've ever met," Clark gushed to reporters. "He respects everybody the same way. Always has a great positive attitude. Never gets out of character. Just (demonstrating) how being an all-around good person translates to the game."
Clark has never gone head-to-head with Curry, who joined Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Kyrie Irving as the only players in the NBA to have three games of 30 or more points against the Timberwolves last season.
Only four guards -- DeMar DeRozan, Luka Doncic, James Harden and Jamal Murray -- have topped 30 against Minnesota this season.
Meanwhile, Curry has gone for 30 or more seven times in his 16 appearances this year. He's topped 40 on three occasions in a pair of wins over San Antonio and one against Denver.
When last seen five days ago in Chicago, the Warriors were limping through an impressive sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Bulls on back-to-back days. They did so not only without Curry but also Draymond Green, who had a bruised right foot, and Al Horford, who has been dealing with sciatica pain in his back.
Green (personal reasons) has been ruled out as the Warriors play at home for the first of four times in six games through Christmas. Horford remains out.
Remaining questionable, but not because of injury, is Jonathan Kuminga, who was a healthy scratch in Chicago after starting and shooting 1-for-10 in Cleveland.
"He has not played well lately," Kerr explained to the media this week. "He's obviously a guy with a lot of ambition, which I love. He wants to be a star. He's got the ability that gives him that hope and gives us that hope. But there has to be a consistent level of play in order to achieve that."
-- Field Level Media
