The Golden State Warriors have not been playing with their full arsenal of weapons, burdened by a short-term injury to Stephen Curry and a longer injury to Draymond Green. They have not been able to separate from an unexpectedly weak Western Conference in which a number of highly-regarded teams are struggling.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have gone through a lot of drama this season, having traded Jimmy Butler to the Philadelphia 76ers and made a concerted attempt to sort out their locker room. They’ve acquired a degree of stability, but it remains uncertain what kind of team this will become as the season moves along.

The two teams meet Monday in Oakland, with the defending champions returning home after a long road trip.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Warriors were hammered by the Oklahoma City Thunder at home on Wednesday, their fifth loss in the last six games, with the Portland result on Friday still to come. They are 8-11 against the spread this season, 12-7 ATS at home.

The Timberwolves are 11-6-1 against the spread this season after beating the Utah Jazz this past Wednesday. They are 10-8 overall, and have shown through roughly one-fourth of the season that they can be a factor in the West.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves lost to the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, 113-105.

They hit 44 percent of their field goals, and hit 7 of 16 three-point shots. Minnesota was 18 of 22 from the free throw line. The problem for Minnesota was its field goal defence. When the T-Wolves were able to frustrate Portland, they forced turnovers, 19 in all. However, when Minnesota couldn’t force a turnover and Portland was able to get off a field goal attempt, the Trail Blazers hit 44 percent of their shots, 10 three-pointers, and 25 of 30 free throws.

Minnesota placed all five of its starters in double figures, but none more than 20 points. Their  five starters combined for 81 points, but Portland’s five starters combined for 91 points, because Damian Lillard scored 28 and Jusuf Nurkic went for 22. The Wolves’ defence couldn’t contain the Blazers very consistently. Minnesota is 13-13, but the T-Wolves are now 2-9 in road games. They’re are 14-12 against the spread this season.

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors lacked Steph Curry for the first game of their five-game road trip in Toronto. They lost that game in overtime, but they put up a good fight. They got Curry back against Detroit and did not look good, but Curry was reintegrated into the lineup. Then the wheels began to turn more smoothly again, and they won in Atlanta, Cleveland, and most recently, in Milwaukee this past Friday.

The Warriors often win with their offence, but their victory over Milwaukee was based on their defence. They held the Bucks to 95 points, only 44 in the second half, and only 19 in the fourth quarter. Milwaukee hit just 7 of 39 threes against Golden State’s active perimeter defence. Golden State’s defence was so good that the Warriors won by 10 – 105-95 – on a night when Draymond Green didn’t play for the 11th straight game with a sprained toe injury, and when Kevin Durant was just 3 of 14 from the field, 1 of 6 from three-point range.

Now, they’ll get Draymond Green back. He is expected to play in this game on Monday against Minnesota.

Injuries

Minnesota

Jerryd Bayless (PG)

Out Wed Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19

Taj Gibson (PF)

Out indefinitely Calf - 19 / 03 / 19

Derrick Rose (PG)

out for season Elbow - 12 / 03 / 19

Jeff Teague (PG)

out for season Foot - 12 / 03 / 19

Andrew Wiggins (SF)

Prob Thurs Quadricep - 09 / 03 / 19

Luol Deng (SF)

Out indefinitely Achilles - 27 / 02 / 19

Jeff Teague (PG)

Prob Thurs Knee - 25 / 02 / 19

Gorgui Dieng (C)

Out indefinitely Personal - 21 / 02 / 19

Derrick Rose (PG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 12 / 02 / 19

Andrew Wiggins (SF)

Prob Fri Illness - 11 / 02 / 19

Golden State

Kevon Looney (C)

Prob Thurs Collarbone - 11 / 06 / 19

Kevon Looney (C)

Ques Fri Collarbone - 02 / 06 / 19

Andre Iguodala (SF)

Prob Sun Calf - 31 / 05 / 19

Shaun Livingston (PG)

Prob Thurs Knee - 27 / 05 / 19

Andre Iguodala (SF)

Prob Thurs Calf - 19 / 05 / 19

Kevon Looney (C)

Prob Thurs Knee - 15 / 05 / 19

Andre Iguodala (SF)

Prob Wed Knee - 07 / 05 / 19

Shaun Livingston (PG)

Prob Wed Hip - 07 / 05 / 19

Draymond Green (PF)

Prob Wed Wrist - 21 / 04 / 19

DeMarcus Cousins (C)

Prob Thurs Quadricep - 16 / 04 / 19

Injuries

Minnesota

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jerryd Bayless (PG)	Out Wed	Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19	2-1	2-1	+ -
Bayless has been absent from the lineup during the past two games due to a right ankle contusion and will not suit up Wednesday against the Nuggets.
Taj Gibson (PF)	Out indefinitely	Calf - 19 / 03 / 19	5-7	5-7	+ -
Gibson suffered a left calf strain and there is no timetable for return.
Derrick Rose (PG)	out for season	Elbow - 12 / 03 / 19	6-9	6-9	+ -
Rose has been shut down for the remainder of the season due to a chip fracture and loose body in his right elbow.
Jeff Teague (PG)	out for season	Foot - 12 / 03 / 19	6-9	6-9	+ -
Teague is nursing inflammation in his left foot and will not return for the remainder of the season.
Andrew Wiggins (SF)	Prob Thurs	Quadricep - 09 / 03 / 19	6-11	8-9	+ -
Wiggins has been held out of the past three games with a left quadriceps contusion but it is not expected to impede his status for Thursday's matchup against the Jazz.
Luol Deng (SF)	Out indefinitely	Achilles - 27 / 02 / 19	8-14	12-10	+ -
Deng has been held out of action due to a sore left Achilles and it has yet to be determined how long the ailment will keep him idle.
Jeff Teague (PG)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 25 / 02 / 19	9-14	13-10	+ -
Teague has sat out the past two games with a sore left knee but is likely to be available for Thursday's matchup versus the Pacers.
Gorgui Dieng (C)	Out indefinitely	Personal - 21 / 02 / 19	11-14	14-11	+ -
Dieng has been away from the team due to a personal matter and it is unclear when he will rejoin the lineup.
Derrick Rose (PG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 12 / 02 / 19	13-14	16-11	+ -
Rose is expected to suit up against the Rockets on Wednesday despite right ankle soreness.
Andrew Wiggins (SF)	Prob Fri	Illness - 11 / 02 / 19	13-14	16-11	+ -
Wiggins has been held out of the past two games due to an illness but is expected to return Friday against the Knicks.

Golden State

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Kevon Looney (C)	Prob Thurs	Collarbone - 11 / 06 / 19	0-1	0-2	+ -
Looney is expected to play in Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Raptors despite leaving the last game after aggravating his right first costal cartilage non-displaced fracture.
Kevon Looney (C)	Ques Fri	Collarbone - 02 / 06 / 19	1-3	3-2	+ -
Looney suffered a right first costal cartilage non-displaced fracture to his collarbone and it is unknown if he will return against the Raptors in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Andre Iguodala (SF)	Prob Sun	Calf - 31 / 05 / 19	1-3	4-2	+ -
Iguodala is nursing left calf soreness but it is likely he will play against the Raptors in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
Shaun Livingston (PG)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 27 / 05 / 19	1-3	4-2	+ -
Livingston is expected to play against the Raptors in Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite a sore left knee.
Andre Iguodala (SF)	Prob Thurs	Calf - 19 / 05 / 19	2-4	5-3	+ -
Iguodala is dealing with tightness in his left calf but is expected to be available for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Raptors.
Kevon Looney (C)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 15 / 05 / 19	4-4	6-4	+ -
Looney is likely to partake in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against the Trail Blazers despite left knee soreness.
Andre Iguodala (SF)	Prob Wed	Knee - 07 / 05 / 19	4-7	7-5-1	+ -
Iguodala has a hyperextended left knee but is expected to play in Game 5 of the Western Conference second round against the Rockets.
Shaun Livingston (PG)	Prob Wed	Hip - 07 / 05 / 19	4-7	7-5-1	+ -
Livingston is battling soreness in his left hip but is likely to suit up against the Rockets in Game 5 of the Western Conference second round.
Draymond Green (PF)	Prob Wed	Wrist - 21 / 04 / 19	7-10	11-7-1	+ -
Green is nursing a right wrist injury but is projected to suit up against the Clippers in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round.
DeMarcus Cousins (C)	Prob Thurs	Quadricep - 16 / 04 / 19	8-11	12-8-1	+ -
Cousins will be available for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Raptors after recovering from a tear in his left quadriceps.

Timberwolves vs. Warriors Prediction