Warriors vs. Timberwolves Classic: Steph Curry Drops 40 to Shred Minnesota, Anthony Edwards' 31 Points Go to Waste
Last night at Chase Center, the Warriors hosted the Timberwolves in a game that had me jumping off the couch multiple times! There was plenty of pre-game talk about Minnesota's young core being able to compete, but from the opening tip, Steph Curry had other plans. The pace was blistering, and in the end, the Warriors cruised to a dominant victory, solidifying their standing in the West.
Curry Catches Fire, Wolves Left Gasping
Stephen Curry was completely locked in, finishing with 40 points and drilling 8 three-pointers, leaving Minnesota's guards utterly bewildered. The third quarter was pure insanity, with Curry dropping 17 points, hitting 4 of 5 from beyond the arc, including a couple from just past half-court that left the Wolves with no answers. On the other side, Anthony Edwards gave it his all, constantly attacking the paint and drawing fouls. But after the deficit ballooned midway through the third, the entire team seemed to deflate, and every attempt to rally fell short.
Minnesota's frontcourt got completely outplayed. Julius Randle managed just 14 points on 5-for-14 shooting, completely stifled by the defensive pressure from Draymond Green and Kevon Looney. Green himself flirted with a triple-double (8 points, 9 rebounds, 12 assists) and added 3 steals on defense, disrupting Minnesota's offense all night long.
Warriors' Fluid Offense vs. Wolves' Imbalance
Golden State's ball movement was a thing of beauty, something you'd show in a coaching clinic. They racked up 34 assists as a team, with bench contributor Brandin Podziemski seizing his opportunity to pour in 18 points, hitting 4 of 5 from three-point range, proving to be the X-factor. In contrast, the Timberwolves managed only 21 assists. The offense often devolved into Edwards isolating, driving hard to the rim or kicking it out, but his teammates couldn't buy a shot from the perimeter. The team shot a dismal 9-for-31 (under 30%) from three-point range. With firepower like that, you can't hang with a team like the Warriors.
For Minnesota, this game served as a valuable lesson (how to use Warriors vs. Timberwolves). If they want to make a deep playoff run, they absolutely must solve the issue of finding a reliable second scoring option when Edwards gets trapped. Gobert's offensive game is limited, and the bench lacks consistent contributors. Their offense becomes too one-dimensional. The Warriors exploited this perfectly, packing the paint and daring them to shoot from outside. When those shots didn't fall, Golden State was off to the races, turning the game into a blowout.
Key Stats & Takeaways
Looking at the final box score, a few things stand out:
- Curry recorded his 8th game this season with 8+ made three-pointers, further extending his lead over second place on the NBA's all-time list for such games.
- Edwards extended his franchise record streak of 30+ point games to 7, surpassing Kevin Garnett's mark, but unfortunately ended up as the "empty stats" leader in a losing effort.
- The Warriors shot a scorching 50% from three (21-for-42), compared to Minnesota's frigid 29% (9-for-31). That disparity was the ultimate decider.
- Second-chance points: Warriors 17, Timberwolves 8, highlighting Golden State's superior execution after grabbing offensive rebounds.
Next up, the Warriors hit the road to face the Denver Nuggets, looking to maintain their hot shooting. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, head home to host the Portland Trail Blazers, desperately needing a win to regain their momentum. In the end, this Warriors vs. Timberwolves showdown was another powerful reminder that in the NBA, team chemistry and execution often trump individual talent.