SAN FRANCISCO — Having scored one level in 5 minutes, seeing an 11-point lead dissipate right into a deficit, the Warriors went to a Steph Curry pick-and-roll on the wing with Jonathan Kuminga.
Kuminga slipped to the rim at an angle, catching a pocket cross off the bounce and elevating for a two-handed dunk.
The Warriors wish to empower Kuminga extra offensively, they usually’re looking out for units that work. Test and examine.
Golden State almost fell into the late-game rut that has plagued them lately, however as an alternative leaned on their protection and manufactured simply sufficient scoring to return again towards Minnesota.
Gary Payton II picked off Anthony Edwards, igniting a transition break that ended with Buddy Hield’s seventh 3 of the sport. Curry, who dished it to Hield within the nook, screamed in celebration with 56.8 seconds left.
That was the game-winner. For the exclamation level, Draymond Inexperienced threw down an emphatic dunk and borrowed Curry’s “Night-Night” celebration, hitting it a number of instances within the sport’s waning moments. To reach on the rim, he sized up Rudy Gobert and used a Curry ball display to open up a driving lane.
“We needed that moment,” Curry stated postgame.
They wanted it as a result of they’d simply misplaced six of seven. Due to the meat between Inexperienced and Gobert. As a result of breaking by way of late-game offensive struggles is a serious step again towards profitable methods.
They wanted it to stamp a win. Golden State (14-9) held the Timberwolves to 16 fourth-quarter factors and restricted Anthony Edwards to only three within the last quarter, pulling away for a 114-106 victory. They overcame a sizzling taking pictures evening from the Timberwolves by having three 20-point scorers in Curry (30 factors), Hield (27) and Kuminga (20) for the primary time this season.
Shortly after tipoff, Inexperienced performed peacemaker after Edwards tossed down Jonathan Kuminga after a steal for a technical foul. For him to diffuse a scenario towards the Timberwolves — the opponent through which his season bought derailed final 12 months — confirmed an indication of progress.
As a workforce, although, the Warriors didn’t present a lot progress early on. They dedicated 4 turnovers within the first 5 minutes, together with an errant inbounds cross beneath their very own basket. Golden State shot 2-for-12 from 3 within the first quarter, falling behind 30-21.
Kuminga, within the beginning lineup and taking part in in a extra featured function, began 2-for-6. A number of instances, he tried Gobert on drives — a method that has not often labored for anybody up to now decade.
Kuminga settled in and bought to his spots within the lane and across the elbows for buckets. He added three blocks, together with a late one, to go together with seven rebounds in a team-high 36 minutes. If the Warriors try to cross the torch to him, he’ll must take it.
“He’s really finding a good groove and it’s fun to see him starting to blossom,” head coach Steve Kerr stated.
Curry nonetheless wants a second scorer to both emerge or be part of the Warriors, however that is nonetheless his workforce. He erupted for 15 second-quarter factors, together with three powerful 3-pointers, to maintain the Warriors shut.
But after Curry sank a 3 from the wing — releasing himself for a handoff from Draymond Inexperienced — the Timberwolves closed the half with back-to-back 3s in response. Golden State had momentum, however the Timberwolves snatched it again by ending stronger.
Minnesota’s swarming, handsy protection that restricted the Warriors to 2 separate quarters of 15 and 18 factors on Friday evening held Golden State to 37.5% taking pictures within the first half and compelled 9 turnovers.
The Warriors turned up the tempo within the third quarter, turning stops — and even fast inbounds passes — into fast-break scores. Payton leaked out for a pair of buckets then Hield sank his third triple of the sport on a sneaky inbounds cross up the court docket off a useless ball.
The 11-3 burst from the Warriors introduced them inside three early within the third.
Because the Warriors made their push, Minnesota saved sinking nook 3s. They calmly operated out of double groups, making the additional cross and hitting 15 of their first 30 triples.
Hield, who was mired in a month-long stoop, tied the sport with one other 3. Later, he gave the Warriors their first lead because the first bucket of the sport with a 3 after Kuminga dug out a steal towards Edwards. Hield dropped 11 factors within the third, rediscovering his jumper.
“When I’m out there with Steph and Dray and Gary, and JK with steam going downhill, the floor’s always open,” Hield stated. “Teams have to pick their poison.”
Curry completed an offensively plentiful, 44-point Warriors third quarter with a rainbow 3 on the horn over Gobert. The Warriors shot 16-for-22 within the third.
Curry performed with extra burst than he has in current weeks, and he was getting rewarded with the scoring assist Golden State has been trying to find throughout its skid.
Then the Warriors’ protection got here round. Golden State smothered Minnesota to start out the ultimate quarter, holding the Wolves to 1 level in 4 minutes. Payton stripped Edwards and beat him down the court docket for an and-1, then Hield’s sixth 3 gave the Warriors an 11-point edge.
The Warriors introduced Curry again for the final 5:31, placing him two minutes above the 32-minute mark they wish to hold him at. Two days off after Sunday doubtless factored in in addition to the desperation to return to profitable methods.
Curry rejoined with a four-point lead. Final 12 months’s Clutch Participant of the 12 months wasn’t going to let one other win slip away, even when he was prepared to half along with his patented celebration.
“Time to go home,” Payton stated of Inexperienced’s celebration. “Knockout punch.”
Initially Printed: December 8, 2024 at 8:04 PM PST
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