Tag: Minnesota Timberwolves

Talk of the Towns, the Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) is thrilled after scoring against the Golden State Warriors at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Sun Jan 16, 2022 (AP News photo)

Weary Warriors Lose to Minnesota 119-99

By Barbara Mason

After crushing the Eastern Conference leading Chicago Bulls Friday night, the Golden State Warriors (31-12) played their last road game of this current series against the Minnesota Timberwolves (21-22) Sunday night. The Timberwolves froze out Golden State on Sunday night at the Target Center 119-99

The team will continue to play without Draymond Green who is expected to miss the entire month of January, a major loss for Golden State. The Warriors will also be missing Stephen Curry and Gary Payton in this game.

Curry suffered a hand injury in the game against the Bulls and Payton is dealing with back tightness. Three invaluable players not taking the floor will be a challenge for Golden State. The good new for the Warriors is the depth that they have on their roster. Klay Thompson will more than likely see more minutes in the absence of Curry and Payton.

After the first quarter, the Timberwolves led by the score of 30-22. The Timberwolves had scored twenty points in the paints while the Warriors were relying heavily on shots from downtown which were not dropping.

The Warriors needed to start hitting more mid-range points in the second quarter. Golden State was able to hold D’Angelo Russel to three points in the quarter and Anthony Edwards was held scoreless.

The Warriors were playing a very nice defensive game and none of the team was in foul trouble so there were some good things going for Golden State. In the later minutes of the quarter Anthony Edwards finally hit a shot from downtown.

This was one player that you did not want to get involved in the game. He can really dominate when he gets going. The three’s were not hitting for the Warriors going 5 of 22 as those woes continued.

As the quarter came to a close the Warriors had made a nice surge. They trailed by the score of 56-53 but had really starting heating up. Jonathan Kuminga and Thompson both had 11 points for the half. For the Timberwolves the high score was Karl-Anthony Towns with 13, the only Minnesota player with double digits

Knowing that the Warriors are a second half team the question would be do they have enough legs to finish off Minnesota. The Warriors would take the lead mid-way through the third quarter 68-64. The Warriors continued their great ball movement and defensive effort attacking the basket in the third quarter in a very tight game.

Minnesota got their first double digit lead of the game at the end of the third quarter. The Warriors had worked hard in the quarter to take the lead but the Timberwolves denied shot after shot with some great defensive play. Minnesota led 91-81.

This game was very tight through the third quarter but it all turned around in the fourth quarter and it was all Minnesota. Some questionable calls in the third quarter seemed to take the air out of the Warriors sails and it all seemed to fall apart.

It was a tough stretch for Golden State with Steve Kerr getting a technical in the midst of it. With under eight minutes left in the game Minnesota had taken a 105-84 lead.

This was a tough loss for Golden State. They had a rough time knocking down shots and the Minnesota 19-1 run in the fourth quarter just did the Warriors in. One of the bright spots for Golden State was the 19 shots from Jonathan Kuminga. The Warriors now come home, regroup and get that energy back. Right now there is no place like home for the Golden State Warriors.

The seven game home stand could not come at a better time. They will be taking on the Pistons Tuesday night with the tipoff scheduled for 7:00 PM. We will be waiting to hear of the status of Payton and Curry and will hopefully be seeing them take the court on Tuesday.

Golden State Warrior Andrew Wiggins (top) throws down against the Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Patrick Beverley (22) at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Wed Nov 10, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

An explosive game by Kevon Looney with 15 rebounds led Golden State to their sixth win in a row 123-110. Offensively Andrew Wiggins had 35 points against his former team.

Wednesday night the Golden State Warriors (10-1) took on the Minnesota Timberwolves (3-7) in a quest for their sixth win in a row.

The Timberwolves came out strong in the first quarter but how long could they keep pace with the Warriors? It was not surprising because Minnesota is very good in the first half of their games, in fact second best in the league but they are near the bottom of the heap in the second half.

The Timberwolves got far too many offensive rebounds in the quarter but despite that the Warriors led 31-28 after the first quarter. Anthony Edwards kept Minnesota in this game with 16 points in the opening quarter. Andrew Wiggins led the way for Golden State with 11 points.

Golden State put the Timberwolves out of the second quarter extending their lead to 47-34 at 7:51. The great start that Minnesota had in the first quarter was vanquished by the explosive play of the Warriors. At the half Golden State led 69-54. Kevon Looney had a great first half with nine points and nine rebounds. Wiggins was all over the court finishing the half with 22 points. He set the tone in this game, something he really wanted to do against his former team.

The expected collapse by Minnesota in the third quarter did not materialize. Golden State had led by twenty points in the quarter that was cut to four in the late minutes of the third. Draymond Green took a shot to the knee and had to leave the court and that was when the Timberwolves got very hot. The score after three quarters was 93–84 in favor of the Warriors. Golden State would have to hunker down in the absence of Green in the fourth quarter.

The Warriors outside shooting had gone cold in the fourth quarter letting Minnesota back into this game. Anthony Edwards was having a great game for Minnesota shooting 50% from downtown. The Warriors had to somehow slow down Edwards who was on a real roll with 43 points and five minutes left in the game.

Minnesota was double teaming Curry and with no Green on the floor it was crunch time for Golden State. The Warriors forced numerous turnovers in the final minutes of the fourth quarter which helped to seal this game for Golden State.

Wiggins finished the game with 35 points and four rebounds. Curry had 25 points with three shots from downtown. In an electric performance Looney had 17 rebounds and 11 points.

Friday night we will get to see the Chicago Bulls (8-3) take on the Warriors in the final game of this long home stand. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

The Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry (30) struggles on offense against the Minnesota Timberwolves Ricky Rubio (9) on Thu Apr 29, 2021 at the Target Center in Minneapolis (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors (31-32) started the final four-game road trip of the season on a sour note Thursday night at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Then suddenly resurgent Minnesota Timberwolves (20-44) played well in the final 12 minutes of the game to down the Warriors 126-114.

The Timberwolves have won their last four in a row and six of the last eight. Even though the Warriors lost, it was not all bad news. The Warriors will benefit if Minnesota continues to play well. If Minnesota does not finish in the top three in the lottery, the Warriors will get their first-round draft pick.

The Timberwolves currently have the third-worst record in the NBA. The Pick would not go to the Golden State if the season ended today. The Wolves, however, may pass either Detroit or Oklahoma City in the standings. If they do, the Warriors will get the pick.

The Warriors were without the services of forward Kelly Oubre, Jr. Thursday night. Oubre has been an offensive sparkplug coming off the bench. His absence meant the Warriors were down to eight players. Kent Bazemore was back in the lineup after missing several games due to NBA Covid-19 protocols.

The teams played a hotly contested game for all four quarters. The Timberwolves, coached by former Toronto Raptor assistant coach Chris Finch, took a page out of the Raptors’ playbook. Finch has his team double team, Stephen Curry, all night long. The Timberwolves decided to stop Steph and let the other four players on the court figure out how to beat them.

The Plan worked in the first quarter. The Timberwolves held Curry to five points in the first twelve minutes of action. Andrew Wiggins, facing his former teammates, carried the water for the Warriors. The game was tied at 25-25 when Minnesota went on a 10-0 run to finish the quarter leading 35-25. 

The Warriors’ second unit went on a 10-2 run early in the second quarter to get within four 39-35. The Warriors trailed until late in the first half until Curry got hot. Curry made a three to make it 55-54. The Wolves connected on a three to go ahead by four. Curry made two frees, then made a steal and a bucket to tie the game, 58-58. The Timberwolves scored the last bucket of the first half to lead 60-58. Andrew Wiggins paced the Warrior attack with 18 points. Steph had 13. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Wolves with 11. Veteran guard Rickey Rubio had 10. The Timberwolves were 10-for-21 from three-point range. 

The Timberwolves started the third quarter on an 8-0 run to lead 68-58. The Warriors did not fold. They fought back but could not get the lead back. The Warriors tied the game 87-87. Minnesota responded with a two-point basket to lead 89-87. Curry made a four-point play to give the Warriors the lead 91-87. Minnesota scored a basket and the third quarter ended with the Warriors ahead by two. 

As per head coach Steve Kerr’s plans, Curry and Draymond Green would sit on the bench for about the first six minutes of the fourth quarter. The Warriors second unit had their work cut out for them. The Wolves star rookie, Anthony Edwards, came out firing.

The Warriors had no answer. Minnesota went on a 10-2 run to lead 106-99. The Timberwolves’ defense stopped the Warriors’ offense in the last six minutes of the game. Minnesota continued to make three-pointers. Karl-Anthony Towns and Juancho Hernangomez made back-to-back threes to go ahead by ten 117-107. The Warriors ran out of time, and they lost by a final score of 126-114.

Game Notes and Stats: With the loss, The Warriors are 31-32 for the season with nine games left on the schedule. The Timberwolves are 20-44.

The Warriors had five players in double figures. Curry led the team with 37 points, six rebounds, and eight assists. Curry was 11-for-27 from the floor, and he made six threes in 17 tries. Wiggins finished with 27 points, four boards, three assists, and made three threes in six attempts.

Green had 11 points, five boards, and five assists. Bazemore had a double-double with ten points and ten rebounds. Mychal Mulder had 11. As a team, the Warriors shot 49% from the floor. They made 15 threes in 38 attempts. The taller Timberwolf team outrebounded them 68-41. The Wolves pulled down 16 offensive rebounds. The Warriors had four.

Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 25 points. Town had a double-double with 22 points and 11 boards. Ricky Rubio had 22. Rubio knocked down five threes. Naz Reid had 13. The Timberwolves made 20 three-point shots in 41 tries. Teams with 20 threes and shoot about 50% are 43-0.

The Warriors tipoff against the Rockets in Houston Saturday night, The game will start at 4:30 pm.