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

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

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

Green remains paramount 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 was a major 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 putting pressure on the rim.

The Warriors weren’t able to get two-way center Quinten Post to Minnesota in time because of logistical challenges, Kerr said, so their options included Kevon Looney, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Gui Santos in the nationally televised game.

Kyle Anderson (left hamstring soreness) was also out, as well as Brandin Podziemski (abdominal strain) and Jonathan Kuminga (ankle sprain). Gary Payton II did make his return from a calf strain after 10 missed games.

In 2022, Green missed two months with the same L5-S1 disk injury, though Kerr said this current injury isn’t similar to that one, in which Green had a herniated disk.

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

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

Kerr took full accountability after that game, saying it’s his job as the coach to “find a way to help this team.” While the Warriors appreciated the sentiment, everyone knows Golden State’s issues don’t start and end with the head coach.

“I don’t think that’s on him,” Andrew Wiggins said. “That’s what a leader does. Steve’s a leader. It’s on everybody.”

“When you’re going through a rut like this, playing .500 basketball or below that, you’ve got to look at yourself, not the coach,” Looney said. “We’re out there on the court, we control what happens. And we’ve got to do better.”