Tag: Minnesota Timberwolves

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) front center, guard Draymond Green left gets into a first half brawl with the Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (back) at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Tue Nov 14, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors (6-6) did not have guard Stephen Curry in Tuesday night’s starting Lineup. The Warriors had the veteran Chris Paul sub for Curry, and Steve Kerr started Dario Saric instead of Kevon Looney. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were in the Warriors starting lineup. The Warriors ended up losing their fourth straight game and getting swept in the two game set by the Minnesota Timberwolves (8-2) 105-101.

Things went downhill quickly. With less than two minutes played, Thompson and the Wolves’ Jaden McDaniels got into quite a skirmish. It appeared that McDaniels grabbed Klay’s arm as the teams were in transition.

Thompson took umbrage with McDaniels holding his arm, and McDaniels answered by grabbing and ripping Thompson’s jersey. Green put a chokehold on Rudy Gobert as the Wolves’ Gobert attempted to pull the players apart. The referees ejected Thompson, Green, and McDaniels. Not a single point was on the scoreboard when this happened. The Warriors head coach, Steve Kerr, had to revamp his lineup quickly.

Kerr inserted rookie Brandin Podziemski as the shooting guard. The young man, drafted in the first round by the Warriors, showed the fans at Chase Center that he could play in the NBA. While the Warriors fell to the Wolves, Podziemski wowed everyone in the arena.

Up to this point in the season, Curry was the only Warriors to put 20 or more points on the board this season. Podziemski played 38 minutes and recorded 23 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and one steal. Podziemski made three three in eight tries. Kerr now knows the young man from Santa Clara University will be getting more minutes of playing time in the future.

Minnesota, even without McDaniels, had four stars in their lineup. Karl-Anthony Towns had a season-high 33 points. Towns pulled down 11 boards and made five threes. Anthony Edwards finished with 320. Edward made a three late in the fourth quarter to put the Wolves ahead 96-95. 

The Warriors behind Podziemski, Dario Saric, and Chris Paul won the first quarter 30-22. The Wolves had to be surprised at the play of the Warriors’ reserves. The Warriors maintained the lead at the end of the first half, leading by five, 59-54. 

The Warriors continued to play well in the third quarter. Saric and Podziemski continued to put points on the board. Podziemski hit a three at the buzzer to put the Warriors ahead by seven, 83-76. The Warriors had to play well in the fourth quarter if they hoped to upset the Wolves.

Minnesota came into the game, owning the best defense in the NBA. The Wolves stopped the Warrior offense cold at the start of the fourth quarter. The Wolves went on a 7-0 run to tie the game. From that point until late in the quarter, it was a dogfight.

Neither team could pull away. Saric hit a three to make it 98-96. Towns hit a three to put the Wolves ahead by one, 99-98. The Wolves Michael Conley knocked down a three to increase the lead to 104-98. Moses Moody connected on a three to close the gap to 104-101. It was too little, too late. The Wolves ran out the clock to preserve the win.

Game Notes: The Warriors lost their fourth game in a row to even their record at 6-6. Minnesota improved to 8-2

Saric had 21, and Podziemski 23. These two players join Curry as the only players to score 20 or more points in a game this season. Kerr had to be pleased with the contributions of Moody (11), and Chris Paul (15). Backup Guard Cory Joseph had six, and Gary Payton II added seven.

There may be additional penalties for the melee early in the game. Draymond Green may be suspended for attacking Rudy Gobert and putting a choke hold on him. 

The Warriors play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night at the Chase Center. The game will start at 7 p.m.

Golden State Warriors Klay Thompson (11) and the Minnesota Timberwolves Karl-Anthony Towns (right) go for the basketball at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Sun Nov 12, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Warriors podcast with Barbara:

#1 The Golden State Warriors (6-5) could not stop the best offensive team in the Western Conference Sunday night. Golden State lost their third game in a row falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-110.

#2 Minnesota is loaded with a plethora of talent in Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert. This was a tougher matchup than Saturday night’s game against Cleveland.

#3 Barbara, Minnesota head coach Chris Finch talked about finding ways and strategies on improving winning games and like you talked about in your recap last night Finch and the Timberwolves have found ways to win like they did against the Warriors on Sunday.

#4 Talk about Anthony Edwards scored 33 points and was followed up by Karl Anthony-Towns who scored 21 points. Towns also had a season best 14 rebounds which shows you that hurts the Warriors on rebounding against the Wolves.

#5 The Timberwolves will try and sweep this two game set on Tuesday night at Chase Center for a 7:00 pm PT tip off. How do you see this second game going down after you saw how the Timberwolves perform against the Warriors on Sunday night. Like you said in your recap it’s tough to win the second game when your on the road like the Timberwolves are.

Join Barbara Mason for the Warriors podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry gestures after making a three point shot against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Chase Center in San Francisco in first half action on Sun Nov 12, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Golden State Warriors (6-5) could not stop the best offensive team in the Western Conference Sunday night. Golden State lost their third game in a row falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-110.

After a tough loss Satrurday night in a game that seemed to go on and on for what seemed like an eternity the Warriors were back on the court at Chase Sunday night taking on the Timberwolves in the first of two games with the Timberwolves.

Minnesota is loaded with a plethora of talent in Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert. This was a tougher matchup than Saturday night’s game against Cleveland. Golden State was challenged by the sheer size of Minnesota.

Game recap: The first quarter was a close one with the Timberwolves taking as much as a five point lead but the Warriors erased the Minnesota lead going ahead 25-19 at 2:50 in a ten point swing. The Timberwolves fought back tying up this game at 25 with 1:43 left in the first 12 minutes. With one tick left on the game clock Warriors guard Stephen Curry made a layup giving the Warriors a 31-29 lead after one quarter.

The Warriors led for a minute in the second quarter 38-30 at 9:43 but Minnesota came charging back tying up the game 38-38 at 7:18. The game was tied again at 6:01 40-40 with the Timberwolves Rudy Gobert making a huge impact with spectacular play.

The Warriors had trouble keeping Minnesota off the glass due to their size. The Timberwolves had gone on a 22-8 run in the second half of the second quarter and led at the half 54-51. The Warriors were trailing at the half but they had Curry and a whole second half to get this game done.

They were only shooting at 38% to the Timberwolves 47% and so they had to be pleased with this slight deficit. Minnesota had gotten the best of the Warriors from downtown as well shooting 37% to Golden State’s 20%. Looking at only a three point deficit, the Warriors, a second half team was in great shape despite trailing.

With 8:36 remaining in the third quarter the Timberwolves continued to hang onto the lead 65-60 and with under six minutes left in the quarter Minnesota started to pull away. The third quarter turned into a disaster as the Timberwolves began to distance themselves from Golden State now leading 85-71 with under two minutes left in the quarter.

The Warriors were having trouble containing the best offensive team in the league. As has been seen so often, it was Curry doing all the heaving lifting with 25 points and Klay Thompson the only other starter with double digits. Going into the fourth quarter Minnesota led 89-73 and the Timberwolves had sucked the life out of the Chase Center crowd.

The pace in the fourth quarter began to quicken and the Chase crowd began to get involved although Minnesota continued to hold a 98-84 lead halfway through the final quarter. Minnesota was relentless striking back every time the Warriors made a move. The Timberwolves are to make some serious noise in the Western Conference this season.

The Warriors just could not stop the Minnesota penetration falling to the Timberwolves 116-110. This was the Timberwolves sixth win in a row. Curry was the high score for both teams with 38 points. Dario Saric was the high off the Warrior bench with 11 points. Anthony Edwards had the high for Minnesota with 33 points.

Golden State will get another shot at Minnesota this coming Tuesday in this two game series. It is always very difficult to beat the same team twice in a row and Minnesota just might see a different result. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 PM at the Chase Center.

Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole (3) beats Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards around a pick set by Kevon Looney (5) during the first quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Sun Mar 26, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Warriors podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 The very determined Minnesota Timberwolves (38-37) didn’t give a inch in the closing moments of their game at the Chase Center in San Francisco against the Golden State Warriors (39-37). The Wolves Karl Anthony Towns hit a three pointer to lift the Timberwolves to a 99-96 win on Sunday night.

#2 The Warriors Jordan Poole score a three pointer himself that gave Golden State the lead at 1:28 right after Towns had hit a three pointer. Poole was the leading scorer for Golden State with 27 points and had grab a crucial rebound on the other end of the floor to score the three.

#3 In the last 9.9 seconds left in the game Poole looked for Stephen Curry to get a pass which didn’t reach him. Curry later attempted a three pointer that ruled no basket at the buzzer and the win went to the T-Wolves.

#4 The Timberwolves Rudy Gobert and the Warriors Draymond Green battled all night. Gobert went up for a dunk with just 27.7 seconds left in the game to dunk but was fouled by Green. Green went to the line hitting one of two. Earlier Green got knocked over by the 7’1 Gobert on a charging foul.

#5 Look out the New Orleans Pelicans (37-37) are coming to face the Warriors Tue Mar 28 at 7:00pm. The Pelicans are coming off a four game win streak and are eighth in the Western Conference and have won six of their last ten games. The Pelicans won their last game against the Los Angeles Clippers Saturday night 131-110.

Join Barbara for the Warriors podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II (8) defends against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (1) during the second quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco on Sun Mar 26, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The game between the Warriors and the Minnesota Timberwolves felt like an NBA playoff game. Both teams played defense at a very high level. Neither team would give an inch. The players needed pads, but there are no pads in basketball. Draymond Green was on the receiving end of three flagrant fouls.

The smaller Warrior team had to find a way to contain Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, and Naz Reid. The Warriors grinded out a slim 55-53 lead at the end of the first half. The Warriors had four players in double figures. Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole each had 12. Stephen Curry had ten, and Green had eleven. The Wolves point guard, Michael Conley, led his team with 12. Conley made four threes.

The Warriors wanted to extend the lead in the third quarter. In the past, Golden State blew teams away in the third period. That was not the case Sunday night. The Warriors’ offense went ice cold. The Wolves defense held them to 18 points. The Warriors had one field goal in the first six minutes and 22 seconds of the third quarter. The Warriors defense held the Wolves to 24 points, but they were trailing 77-73 heading into the fourth quarter. 

Minnesota raced out to a nine-point lead, 86-77. Poole and Gary Payton II helped the Warriors to a 10-2 run to get within a point of the lead 88-87. The Wolves’ Reid made a three, but a bucket by Kevon Looney and a Thompson three gave the Warriors the advantage 92-91.

Towns made a three to regain the lead for the Wolves, 94-93. Time was running down. Poole electrified the crown with a three to return the lead to the Warriors, 96-94. The Warriors needed to eliminate turnovers and stop fouling to win. Neither happened.

The Warriors turned the ball over, and Towns made another three to give the Wolves the lead 98-96 with 9.9 seconds left. The Warriors committed a foul, and Minnesota made a free throw. The W’s has 2.4 seconds left to make a three. Unfortunately for Golden State, they failed to score. The Wolves win 99-96.

Game Notes: The loss stopped the nine-game home winning streak and the modest three-game streak that started in Houston. The Warriors are now 39-37. The Wolves improved top 38-37. 

Poole led the Warriors with 27 points. Poole made three threes. Thompson made five threes and finished with 15 points. Thompson was five-for-17 from the floor.

Curry’s line was 20 points, six rebounds, and nine assists. Curry made four threes. Green had 12 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Green took a beating as Gobert’s fouls sent Green to the floor in a lot of pain.

Payton played his first game of the year for the Warriors. Payton, a fierce defender, received a standing ovation from the fans at the Chase Center when he entered the game in the second quarter. Payton played 15 minutes and knocked down nine points. His three-pointer from the corner in the fourth quarter helped the Warriors regain a brief lead in the fourth quarter. 

Reid, who had a career-high point game against the Warriors in Minnesota, led the Wolves with 23. Reid made three threes. Anthony Edwards had 13, Conly 12, and Towns 14.

Gobert had a double-double with ten points and 18 rebounds. Coming off the Wolves’ bench, Kyle Anderson finished with 12 points and ten rebounds. Anderson’s steal made a steal with 4.4 seconds left in the game to seal the win for Minnesota.

The Warriors host the New Orleans Pelicans at the Chase Center Tuesday night. The game will start at 7 pm.

The Golden State Warriors Jonathan Kuminga (00) tries to reach in and get the ball while teammate Klay Thomson (11) watches at Chase Center in San Francisco on Sun Feb 26, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors (31-30) found a way to down the Minnesota Timberwolves (31-32) Sunday night at the Chase Center Sunday night. The Warriors, still without Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Andrew Wiggins. Could Steve Kerr’s revamped lineup do it again?

The answer was yes. It wasn’t easy, but it was a win. The fans had to hold their collective breaths as the Warriors almost gave away the game in the last 30 seconds of the game. Their longtime star, Klay Thompson, had another terrific outing and, along with Donte DiVincenzo, led the Warriors to a 109-104 win on Sunday night.

The Timberwolves, without big men Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns, jumped off to an early 14-4 lead. Naz Reid led the Timberwolves attack. Reid poured in 24 points in the overtime win, 119-113, on February 1st. The Timberwolves point guard, D’Angelo Russell, also helped down the Warriors that night.

Russell was not in the lineup Sunday night as he was traded to the LA Lakers. Michael Conley was the new point guard. The Warriors started putting points on the board but finished the quarter trailing the Timberwolves 34-25.

Things changed in the second quarter. Jordan Poole and DiVincenzo led the Warriors rally. The Warriors defense slowed down the Minnesota offense. The Warriors won the quarter 34-23 to finish the first half with a slim two-point lead 59-57.

The Warriors had four players in double figures. Thompson paced the Warriors with 12. DiVincenzo had 11, and Jordan Poole and Kevon Looney had ten. Reid led the Wolves with 22. 

The fans hoped the Warriors could continue to play as they did in the second period. That did not happen. The Timberwolves came out firing from behind the three-point arc. Minnesota made five threes early in the quarter. The Warriors did not wilt until late in the period.

The Warriors scored just two points in the last five minutes of the third quarter. They made one two-point bucket and missed 11 times in those five minutes. The Timberwolves outscored the Warriors 30-19 to finish the third quarter with a nine-point advantage, 87-78.

If the Warriors were to win, they had to play defense, stop committing turnovers, drive to the basket and get some free throws. They did all three. The Timberwolves increased the lead to ten, 94-84. The Warriors went on a 12-2 run to tie the game at 96. The Warriors continued to play well.

The Timberwolves went ahead 99-96. Anthony Lamb and DiVincenzo each connected on a three to give the Warriors the lead 103-99. Time was running out. Thompson made a three to put the Warriors in the driver’s seat 105-99. Looney made it 107-99.

The Timberwolves made a three to make it a five-point game, 107-102, with 44 seconds left. All the Warriors had to do was make a basket, and the win would be secured. The Timberwolves had other thoughts. Minnesota hit a three, and the possibility of tying the game and going to overtime was now possible.

24 seconds remained to be played. The Warriors had the ball. The Timberwolves’ defense forced the Warriors to turn the ball over twice. The Warriors could not inbound the ball. With eight seconds left, the Warriors finally got the ball to Thompson. The Timberwolves fouled him, and Thompson made two free throws to ice the win.

Game Notes: With the win, the Warriors are now 31-30. Minnesota is 31-32. 

All five Warrior starters were in double figures. Thompson finished the night with 32 points. Thompson had five rebounds and four assists, and he made six threes. It was the first time in Thompson’s career that he had 25 or more points in two consecutive games. DiVincenzo had 21 points, eight rebounds, and five assists and made four threes/ Poole had 15, Jonathan Kuminga 13, and Looney added 12 points and 17 rebounds for a double-double. 

The Timberwolves’ Reid had a career-high 30 points. Kyle Anderson had 12, Jaden McDaniels had 12, Anthony Edwards had 12, Nickiel Alexander-Walker 10, and Conley nine.

The Warriors host the Portland Trailblazers at the Chase Center Tuesday night. The game will start at 7 pm.