The Golden State Warriors are trying to catch the Rockets for the best record in the NBA and home court advantage in the playoffs. That may be a tough proposition if they miss superstar point guard Stephen Curry for any significant length of time. Curry appeared to tweak his ankle early in a game against the Spurs recently and left the game.
Keep a close eye on the severity of the injury as it could have a big effect on the NBA basketball betting lines for Golden State’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The T-Wolves get the advantage of playing this game at home, and while they will likely be the underdog whether or not Curry is on the court, the NBA betting spread will be smaller if Curry cannot go.
This is a huge injury to watch as the game gets close. The outcome could play a big role in the seeding for both teams in the Western Conference playoff race.
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Odds Analysis
The Warriors are 50-14 straight up and 28-35-1 against the spread. Golden State has covered in 14 of 32 attempts on the road this season. The Warriors have not been the underdog one time this season, a pretty remarkable feat.
The Timberwolves are 38-28 straight up and 30-34-2 against the spread. Minnesota is 16-15-1 against the spread at home on the season. It has covered in 10 of 23 attempts as the underdog.
Injury Report
Curry has been dealing with ankle issues for much of his career, and sprained his right one while attempting a shot near the basket in the first quarter against San Antonio. He didn’t appear to step on anyone’s foot but instead the ankle looked to roll when he landed on the court.
There is no way to replace a star of his magnitude. The Warriors obviously have one of the deepest and most talented rosters in recent memory, but Curry’s possible absence is a big one. He is averaging 26.8 points, 6.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game on the year.
Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson will shoulder more of the scoring load. They are both such good players that Curry’s injury wouldn’t torpedo the team’s chances, but it would obviously put a dent in them on the road against a good team.
Player To Watch
Jimmy Butler -- The Timberwolves’ small forward has been a big reason for the team’s step forward this year into a playoff squad. He is averaging 22.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. Butler was the other star the T-Wolves needed to be a legitimate threat in the West and he will be counted on in this one.
Butler is strong on offense as well as defense. He could draw the assignment of Thompson or possibly Durant. If Curry doesn’t play and Butler can keep one of the other Golden State stars reasonably in check, it would give the T-Wolves a decent chance at remaining competitive in this matchup.
Free NBA ATS Picks
This is a tough game to gauge without knowing the status of Curry, but the inclination is he could miss the contest. If that happens, the Timberwolves should be able to hang around. However, look for Durant to have a huge game and lead his team to a solid road win.
If the oddsmakers make the NBA betting spread too small, the Warriors will be the right pick to cover in addition to claiming the victory.
NBA Odds: Warriors 118, Timberwolves 111
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