You probably know Golden State is the highest scoring team in the NBA. But the Warriors also are a strong defensive team, too. They rank No. 3 in defensive field goal percentage.

Golden State should be motivated to play a much stronger defensive game than its last appearance when it lost, 125-108 on the road to the Trail Blazers Friday. The Warriors had to play that game without rest. The Under has cashed four of the past five times the Warriors have played on one day's rest.

Karl-Anthony Towns is the Timberwolves' leading scorer with Jimmy Butler out. He'll have to face Draymond Green, one of the top defenders in the league.

So I'm not expecting the Timberwolves to have a big scoring game. The key, though, is can the Timberwolves hold the Warriors down enough to make this Under work? I believe the circumstances are right for this to occur.

Minnesota is in stop-the-pain mode having lost three in a row. Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau knows his team has to tighten their defense in order to overcome the loss of Butler, their top scorer but also their best defender.

The Timberwolves should have a lot of defensive intensity. They also draw a beat-up Warrors squad minus Stephen Curry, who averages 26.3 points a game. He's out with an ankle injury. David West and Andre Iguodala aren't likely to play either. Jordan Bell and Patrick McCaw are definitely out. This heavily reduces the Warriors' depth and bench strength.

This also is a day game with a start made even earlier by daylight savings time kicking in.

Note, too, there is a strong Under history with 13 of the last 16 between these two teams going below the total when played in Minnesota.