wolves gameday
9:30 P.M. at GOLDEN STATE • ORACLE ARENA • FSN Plus, 830-AM
Preview: The Warriors' 97-90 home loss to Utah on Sunday ended a three-game winning streak — and a stretch where they won five of their last six and seven of their last nine — but they're still in sixth place in the West by a game over Houston. If they can stay there, they'd likely face No. 3 Denver rather than No. 2 Oklahoma City or San Antonio in the playoffs' first round. … Their magic number to clinch a playoff spot is two. They'll reach the playoffs for the first time since 2007 if they beat the Wolves on Tuesday and the L.A. Lakers lose at home to New Orleans that night. … Golden State has won the season's first three meetings and 11 of the past 13 games between the teams and is going for the series sweep for the third time since the Wolves entered the NBA in 1989. The Warriors won 106-98 at Target Center and 96-85 at Oakland in November and 100-99 at Target Center again on Feb. 24.
Players to watch: The Warriors lead the league in three-point percentage and are on pace to set a franchise record with a .399 mark. And sorry, Wolves fans, but guard Stephen Curry is the big reason why. He already has set the team's single-season record — he has 247 and counting — and is the first NBA player to hit 200 in a season since Aaron Brooks did so in 2009-10. He scored 54 points in a game at Madison Square Garden this season and is only the second Warrior who has had a game of 50 points and 15 assists in the same season. Rick Barry is the other (64 points, 16 assists in 1973-74).
Injuries: Wolves F Kevin Love (hand surgery), G Brandon Roy (knees) and G Malcolm Lee (hip, knee surgeries) are out. G Ricky Rubio hurt his shoulder Saturday against Detroit and had it wrapped in an ice bag afterward but is expected to play. Warriors F/G Brandon Rush (torn ACL/MCL) is out, too.
JERRY ZGODA
