Warriors v Timberwolves classic: Steph Curry drops 40 points to shred Minnesota, Anthony Edwards' 31 in vain
Last night at Chase Center, the Warriors hosted the Timberwolves in a game that had me leaping off the sofa on more than one occasion. Plenty of pundits fancied the young Wolves to put up a real fight, but from the opening tip, they had no answer for Steph Curry. The pace was relentless, and in the end, the Warriors cruised to a comprehensive victory, solidifying their position out West.
Curry on fire, Wolves left breathless
Steph Curry ran the show, finishing with a dazzling 40 points, including eight three-pointers, leaving Minnesota's backcourt in utter disarray. The third quarter was pure magic; Curry dropped 17 points, draining 4 of 5 from beyond the arc, with a couple coming from just inside the half-court logo – absolutely demoralising. On the other side, Anthony Edwards gave it his all, constantly driving into the paint and drawing fouls. But once the deficit ballooned midway through the third, the wind seemed to go out of their sails, and they never got within striking distance again.
The Timberwolves' frontline was completely overwhelmed. Julius Randle managed just 14 points on a poor 5-of-14 shooting, stifled by the relentless double-teams from Draymond Green and Kevon Looney. Green himself flirted with a triple-double (8 points, 9 rebounds, 12 assists), adding 3 steals on the defensive end, constantly disrupting Minnesota's offensive flow.
Warriors' fluid team play exposes Wolves' imbalance
Golden State's ball movement was a thing of beauty, worthy of a coaching masterclass. They racked up 34 assists, with bench contributor Brandin Podziemski seizing his opportunity to pour in 18 points, hitting 4 of his 5 attempts from downtown, proving to be the X-factor. The Timberwolves, in stark contrast, managed just 21 assists. Their offence too often devolved into Edwards isolating, driving forcefully, and kicking out to teammates who couldn't buy a bucket from the perimeter. As a team, they shot a dismal 9-for-31 (under 30%) from three-point range. With firepower like that, you're not going to beat anyone.
For Minnesota, this game served as a harsh but valuable lesson (how to use Warriors vs Timberwolves). If they have serious playoff aspirations, they desperately need to find a reliable secondary scoring option when Edwards is trapped. Rudy Gobert's offensive game is limited, the bench lacks consistent contributors, and their attack becomes far too predictable. The Warriors exploited this perfectly, packing the paint and daring them to shoot from outside, then punishing missed shots with quick transition baskets to blow the game wide open.
Key stats: A closer look
Diving into the final box score reveals several key talking points:
- Curry recorded his 8th game this season with 8+ three-pointers, further extending his lead over second place on the all-time list.
- Edwards scored 30+ points for the 7th consecutive game, breaking Kevin Garnett's franchise record, but his efforts were ultimately in vain in a losing cause.
- The Warriors shot a sizzling 50% from three (21/42), compared to the Timberwolves' paltry 29% (9/31) – the single biggest factor deciding the game.
- Second-chance points: Warriors 17, Timberwolves 8, highlighting Golden State's superior execution after securing offensive rebounds.
Next up, the Warriors hit the road to face the Nuggets in Denver; we'll see if they can maintain this red-hot shooting. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, head home to host the Trail Blazers, in desperate need of a morale-boosting win. Ultimately, this classic Warriors-Timberwolves clash served as another powerful reminder that in the NBA, team chemistry and cohesion will almost always triumph over individual brilliance.