In an intense matchup on Sunday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves emerged triumphant with a 114-110 win against the Golden State Warriors. Led by Anthony Edwards’ impressive performance, the Timberwolves showcased their shooting prowess, matching a season-high record with 21 successful 3-pointers.
Edwards contributed 23 points and displayed composure by sinking 3 of 4 free throws in the final 12 seconds, sealing the victory for Minnesota. Naz Reid played a crucial role, tallying 20 points and a season-high-tying 12 rebounds, while Rudy Gobert added 17 points and 12 rebounds. Despite Steph Curry’s notable 31-point effort for the Warriors, his missed 3-point attempt with 1:27 left on the clock prevented Golden State from tying the game. Gobert capitalized on the opportunity and converted both free throws, extending the Timberwolves’ lead to five points.
With just 22.6 seconds remaining, Curry rebounded Edwards’ airballed 3-pointer and swiftly drove to the basket, reducing the deficit to one point. However, Edwards remained composed and sank two crucial free throws. He then secured the game by grabbing the rebound from Klay Thompson’s missed 3-pointer. Mike Conley also made a notable contribution with 14 points and seven assists for the Timberwolves. With a current record of 49-22, they trail the Denver Nuggets (50-21) by just one game in the Western Conference race, with the Oklahoma City Thunder (49-21) close behind by half a game. The Nuggets surpassed the Thunder after their loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Although the Warriors enjoyed a 12-point lead in the first half and a 54-46 advantage at halftime, the Timberwolves, inspired by Curry’s remarkable shooting abilities, staged a comeback, showcasing their own outside shooting prowess. During Curry’s rest period in the late third quarter and early fourth quarter, the Timberwolves’ substitutes stepped up and played a pivotal role in regaining the lead, outscoring the Warriors by 12 points. Nickeil Alexander-Walker played a crucial role during this period, sinking three 3-pointers.
This game marked the Warriors’ sole visit to Minnesota this season, allowing both teams to cool off after an intense series in San Francisco. Notably, in the second game of that series, Draymond Green was ejected for putting Gobert in a headlock early in the match. The Warriors (36-34) responded well to their lackluster performance in a recent 12-point home loss to the Indiana Pacers. However, they were unable to maintain their strong start against the Timberwolves, jeopardizing their hold on 10th place in the Western Conference for the final play-in spot, with the Houston Rockets (35-35) trailing closely behind.
The Timberwolves initially struggled with turnovers, committing eight in their first 17 possessions within the first eight minutes of the game. They also set a season-low record of 18 points in the first quarter. However, Reid’s outstanding shooting, including five successful 3-point attempts, played a crucial role in steadying the team’s offense, compensating for other areas of inconsistency.
Reid has consistently performed well against the Warriors throughout his career, averaging 14.6 points in 15 games against them, making it the second-highest average against any other NBA team in his career.