Green out, Gary Payton II in for the Timberwolves game

MINNEAPOLIS — Draymond Green missed his third straight game Wednesday after being ruled out by an illness and a back injury, the former more significant than the latter.

Green was seen walking out of the morning shootaround as it opened to the media at the Target Center. He participated but “looked like a ghost,” head coach Steve Kerr said.

“He woke up not feeling well at all,” Kerr said. “He was hoping he’d feel better after a nap this afternoon, some hydration, but he just hasn’t been feeling well.”

Green remains vital to the Warriors, especially on the defensive end. Golden State is seven points per 100 possessions better with him on the court compared to him off it.

Missing Green against Minnesota is a big challenge. The Timberwolves are one of the biggest teams in the league, with Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle and Naz Reid in the front court, as well as Anthony Edwards applying pressure on the rim.

The Warriors were unable to get two-way center Quinten Post to Minnesota in time because of logistical challenges, Kerr said, so their options include Kevon Looney, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Gui Santos in the nationally televised game.

Kyle Anderson (left hamstring soreness) is also out, as are Brandin Podziemski (abdominal strain) and Jonathan Kuminga (ankle sprain). Gary Payton II returns from a calf strain after missing 10 games and should play a factor as a diver, but he’s 6-foot-2.

“We have to fight,” Kerr said. “We’re going to mix and match combinations, see what we can do. Sometimes in games like these, you go small, try to spread people out, play fast. But we also have some guys who can match.”

In 2022, Green missed two months with the same L5-S1 disc injury, although Kerr said this current injury is not similar to the one where Green had a herniated disc.

Green played in two of the Warriors’ first three meetings with the Timberwolves this season. Wednesday night was the last time the two teams will play in the regular season.

The Warriors are 1-2 on their current four-game road trip, with the Timberwolves game representing the final game before heading home to the Bay. Their last loss, a 104-101 loss to the nine-win Toronto Raptors, was one of the most frustrating of the season in the locker room and dropped the team to below .500.