Golden State’s superstar returned to action Friday in San Francisco, while Minnesota’s sat with a sore foot.
Yet it was the Timberwolves who emerged victorious.
Minnesota utilized an egalitarian offensive approach to down the Warriors 127-120 and earn the Wolves their most impressive road win of the season to date.
Not only were the Wolves without Anthony Edwards, but Mike Conley also missed the game and Bones Hyland, who started in Edwards’ stead, left the game early with a knee bruise.
But Minnesota still found enough firepower on a night where five players scored 17-plus points.
Julius Randle led the charge with 27 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while Rudy Gobert dominated Golden State’s small front line to the tune of 24 points and 14 rebounds.
Donte DiVincenzo scored 21 points on the strength of four triples, Naz Reid had 18 points and seven assists and Jaden McDaniels finished with 17 points and five dimes.
Minnesota finished with 30 assists, a gaudy number on a night when the Wolves (16-9) didn’t exactly light it up from distance. Friday marked the team’s first 30-plus assist regular season game with fewer than 13 made triples since February of 2024.
The Wolves relentlessly attacked the bucket, both in the half court and transition. Gobert had eight dunks. The Wolves scored 66 points in the paint and had 18 fast-break points. Terrence Shannon Jr. and Rob Dillingham contributed to those efforts in their extended runs.
The Wolves’ pace was exemplary throughout the contest. It created opportunities for all to shine. Minnesota has had five guys score 14-plus points in each of Edwards’ last three absences.
Everyone’s contributions were required to fend of Steph Curry. In his first game back from injury, Curry tallied 39 points, 14 of which came in a flamethrowing final frame in which Minnesota went on a 17-0 run to claim a 12-point lead, only to have the Warriors (13-13) respond with a 21-6 run of their own to go up three in the final two minutes.
It looked as though the Wolves were going to let another sizable fourth-quarter advantage slip away, until DiVincenzo stopped the bleeding with a gutsy, off-the-bounce triple at the top of the floor to knot the contest at 117-117.
Minnesota then led by two in the final 30 seconds when DiVincenzo struck again, this time on a catch-and-shoot off a feed from Randle to put the Wolves up five and effectively close the door. The Italian sniper scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half as Minnesota won its fifth clutch-time game in its last five tries.
The Wolves return home Sunday to host Sacramento.
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