Timberwolves' Mike Conley out for key game against Thunder

Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley will not play Monday night at the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a hamstring injury, coach Chris Finch told reporters pregame. 

It's the third game in the last four that Conley has missed either to illness, injury or rest. Finch said before their Jan. 22 game against the Charlotte Hornets, when Conley rested, that Conley has been dealing with the hamstring issue for a while and that went into the decision to rest him before the long road trip. 

Conley missed Wednesday's win at the Washington Wizards with an illness, returned for Thursday's game, a win over the Brooklyn Nets in New York, but missed Saturday's loss at the San Antonio Spurs due to the hamstring issue. 

Conley averages 10.9 points and 6.4 assists per game this season, but his leadership and presence on the court have proved to be incredibly valuable to the Timberwolves beyond just the numbers. Minnesota is just 1-3 in the games Conley has missed this season, the lone win coming Wednesday in Washington. 

The Timberwolves will have to take on the Thunder without him in a game that has higher stakes than your usual regular-season game. The winner of Monday night's matchup will stand alone atop the Western Conference standings.