On January 17, Beijing time, the Warriors played against the Timberwolves. Kerr unveiled the starting line-up for the game early: Poole, Thompson, Wiggins, Porter and Looney. This will be the Warriors' 15th starting lineup to use this season. Curry missed the game due to sore right hand, and Green and Payton also missed due to injury. In the last game, the Warriors beat the Bulls 138-96.
Warriors reporter Anthony Slater reported that Curry had returned to the Bay Area early with trainer Rick Celebrini and did not come with the team to Minneapolis. Kerr said Curry has a minor hand injury and is expected to return wednesday in a home game against the Pistons. Previously, Kerr had said Green also planned to return in that game. The Warriors officially posted a training video of the team arriving at the Timberwolves' home stadium, and Wiggins and Bjelica were practicing bottom corner three-pointers.
Thompson, who missed back-to-back games for game two, will make a comeback in today's game against the Timberwolves. Curry and Green are absent, and he and Wiggins will shoulder the heavy responsibilities of the team. In the three games after his return, Thompson averaged 14 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, shooting 35.7% from the field. After all, he hadn't played in two years, and he still needed time to get back in shape. Kerr said Thompson's playing time would increase to around 24 minutes, after he had played around 20 minutes in all three of the previous games.
For Wiggins, the game also has another meaning, he will return to the familiar Timberwolves home against his old club. Wiggins played in the Timberwolves for more than 5 years, playing in 442 games, starting all of them, averaging 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, shooting 44.1% from the field and 33.2% from three-point range. After coming to the Warriors, Wiggins has played 121 games, averaging 18.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, although the basic data is similar, but the shooting rate has increased significantly, shooting 47.9% from the field and 39.1% from three-point range.
On November 11 last year, Wiggins played at home against the Timberwolves at home, in excellent form, shooting 14 of 19 from the field, 3 of 6 from three-point range, and firing down 35 points, which is also Wiggins's highest score so far this season. Facing the old club again, will Wiggins usher in a new outbreak?