In a stunning shake-up for the Golden State Warriors, Draymond Green is sidelined for personal reasons ahead of Friday’s showdown against the Minnesota Timberwolves. This absence forces the Dubs to roll out a completely unprecedented starting lineup that fans have never seen before.
The Warriors’ starting five will feature Stephen Curry, Pat Spencer, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, and Quinten Post. This fresh combination promises intrigue, as the team experiments with new dynamics on the court.
On the Timberwolves’ side, they’re dealing with their own setback: Star guard Anthony Edwards is out with a foot injury. Stepping into his spot in the starting lineup is Bones Hyland, which could shift Minnesota’s offensive flow significantly.
Spencer’s Starting Streak Rolls On
While many anticipated Pat Spencer maintaining a solid role after his impressive four-game run last week, few predicted he’d be starting alongside Stephen Curry. The two 6’2″ point guards have shared the floor sparingly over the past two seasons, creating a notably undersized backcourt when they do.
That said, Spencer’s playmaking skills could open up opportunities for Curry to thrive off the ball, adding a new layer to Golden State’s attack. Head coach Steve Kerr recently mentioned he’d give the Curry-Spencer duo some run to “see how it goes.” Friday’s game will be a key test, potentially dictating how often this pairing appears moving forward.
Spencer has more than earned this shot. Over his four games last week, he posted averages of 14.9 points on 59.1% shooting (including a scorching 75% from beyond the arc), 5.8 assists, and 4.0 rebounds. He notched his first two career starts in the Warriors’ last two outings—both victories without Curry and Green in the mix.
Warriors Dodge a Bullet with Edwards Out, But Frontcourt Faces Massive Test
Golden State catches a fortunate break with Edwards sidelined, easing some pressure on their defense. However, the real challenge lies ahead in the paint, where the Timberwolves boast one of the NBA’s most imposing frontcourts. Starters Jaden McDaniels (6’9″), Julius Randle (6’9″), and Rudy Gobert (7’1″) form a towering trio, backed up by 2024 Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid (6’9″) off the bench.
Even at full strength with Draymond Green and Al Horford available, the Warriors would be in for a battle. Without them, starters Quinten Post (7’0″) and Jimmy Butler (6’6″)—along with reserves Trayce Jackson-Davis (6’9″) and Gui Santos (6’7″)—will face an uphill fight against Minnesota’s size and rebounding prowess.
The Warriors showed resilience without Green and Horford in their recent 51-38 rebounding edge over the Bulls on Sunday. But the Timberwolves are a beast of a different breed on the boards, making this matchup a true litmus test for Golden State’s depth.