After a team and game-high 41 minutes in Monday's overtime loss to the Cavs, Shams reported Tuesday evening that Anthony Edwards will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his ailing right knee and be out for up to two months. Ant has scored 27 percent of Minnesota's points through four games, and much of the offense down the stretch has been Edwards or nothing. Terrence Shannon Jr. or Ayo Dosunmu are set to replace him in the starting five, but nothing official yet. Devastating for a Wolves team still laying points at home.
Golden State comes in after a 134-114 win in Denver, their first win of the year. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg had a game-high 31 and Steph Curry was a perfect 8 of 8 from the floor with 21 points coming in the second half. A much-needed performance, as their first three games were a 22-point loss to the Lakers, a 12-point lead blown to Memphis inside four minutes, and a loss to Phoenix. They were missing Curry, Green, Podziemski and Horford for that one.
Minnesota's frontcourt of Kuminga, McDaniels and Gobert has propelled them to a plus-55 on the glass, and the defense has shown up too, holding Orlando to 93 and Toronto to 94. The Wolves went 12-9 without Ant last season and have the talent to stay afloat again, but maybe not immediately. Monday in Cleveland, LaMelo Ball turned it over seven times and missed two free throws with 9 seconds left, Gobert went 0 of 9 from the floor (how is this even possible?), and Jaden McDaniels fouled out. Edwards scored 47 on a whopping 34 shots and they still lost.
The market still has the Wolves laying 3.5 at home. I'm not certain the Wolves will be able to overcome the issues Ant was hiding against a Warriors team that should be playing with confidence. Keep an eye on Lendeborg, questionable with a sore left foot. If he sits the frontcourt depth gets thin. With a healthy Curry and co against a Wolves team learning who takes the big shot, I like the value on Dub Nation.
Warriors vs Timberwolves prediction: Warriors moneyline (+138) available at time of publishing. Playable to +120.
