MINNEAPOLIS — Earlier than the sport, Steve Kerr was requested how lengthy it’d take for the Warriors to rediscover the identification they established throughout their 12-3 begin.
The legendary coach had a stunning reply: one sport.
“We know who we are,” Kerr stated. “We know what we’re capable of. We’ve got to find the confidence again, and that can happen overnight. We need to click and have a good game, feel good about ourselves, and we’ll get back on track.”
Maybe the Warriors had their breakthrough on Saturday within the Goal Heart. After a 25-minute delay for a pregame internet malfunction, the Warriors locked up the Timberwolves within the first half and closed them out with the late-game execution that has typically lacked this month.
Steph Curry scored 31 and canned a pair of daggers late within the fourth quarter, lifting the Warriors (15-12) to a much-needed 113-103win. They’d misplaced 9 of their previous 11 video games coming into Saturday, together with the fourth greatest margin of defeat in franchise historical past.
Outplaying the Timberwolves — a staff of comparable stature within the West — was a pleasant reminder of who they’re: a defensive-minded, fast-paced staff with Curry as their ninth-inning weapon. It additionally helped that two of their struggling younger gamers, Brandin Podziemski (12 factors, 7 rebounds) and Trayce Jackson-Davis (15 factors, 9 rebounds), every had the very best video games of their seasons.
Boo birds began chirping 4 minutes into the second quarter, when Jonathan Kuminga drilled a nook 3 to place the Warriors up 36-15.
Golden State had constructed a lead with sturdy protection. Regardless of lacking Draymond Inexperienced, who examined out his sore left ankle in warmups however couldn’t go, the Warriors leaned protection with their beginning lineup. Jackson-Davis performed out of his thoughts on each ends to assist the Warriors to an 11-4 begin, logging six factors, six rebounds, two blocks and an help in six minutes.
Minnesota has been going by means of comparable points because the Warriors just lately. On the identical night time the Warriors bought trounced by 51 in Memphis, the Wolves misplaced by 26 to former franchise face Karl-Anthony Cities and the Knicks.
“We don’t have (expletive) on offense,” Minnesota celebrity Anthony Edwards stated after that loss. “We don’t have no identity. We know I’m gonna shoot a bunch of shots, we know (Julius Randle) gonna shoot a bunch of shots, that’s all we know.”
Edwards was on to one thing. The Warriors made the Timberwolves look utterly misplaced on offense. Each possession was a wrestle, together with a three-second violation Kerr and the Warriors’ bench have been notably hyped about.
Edwards and Randle began a mixed 1-for-16 and Minnesota scored simply 37 factors within the first half. Golden State restricted the Wolves to 27.3% taking pictures and compelled 9 turnovers within the first two quarters.
However then all of the sudden, the floodgates opened. Golden State’s identical starters that smothered Minnesota bought picked aside to open the second half. Edwards relentlessly attacked the rim, creating clear appears to be like for his teammates. Donte DiVincenzo, Naz Reid and Julius Randle bought sizzling from 3.
The Warriors took a 38-29 quarter on the chin.
Tweaking Curry’s substitution sample, the Warriors introduced their star again in for the ending kick in an 84-84 sport. He sat for the top of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth earlier than returning with eight minutes left.
Upon his return, Curry ran pick-and-rolls with Jackson-Davis, who has seemingly rediscovered his of entirety. The middle dunked on Rudy Gobert twice, together with on a putback, and added a layup from a Curry pocket cross. Podziemski added a tipback as Edwards nailed back-to-back 3s from above the break to reply Golden State’s push.
The 5 of Curry, Podziemski, Kuminga Jackson-Davis and Andrew Wiggins regarded cohesive. Edwards tried to take over for Minnesota, so Kerr countered by inserting Gary Payton II in for Kuminga.
Wiggins — who has had a terrific two-way season — blocked Randle within the publish, resulting in a Curry 3 on the opposite finish. He hopped in entrance of Golden State’s bench earlier than nailing one other one, skipping at halfcourt in celebration.
The daggers regarded like they meant extra. Given how robust it has been for the Warriors, they in all probability did.
