Not an ideal game.
The Golden State Warriors got some welcome news on Friday, before hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves. Their two Hall of Famers, Steph Curry and Draymond Green, were both returning to the lineup.
Unfortunately, that was where the good news ended. Steve Kerr opted to bring Green off the bench, allowing Jonathan Kuminga to stay in the starting five following his career game on Thursday. For a few plays, it looked like a great decision. Kuminga dropped in a three on the team’s first possession, and Andrew Wiggins — Thursday’s other star — had seven early points. But they couldn’t build any momentum off of that.
When Green entered the game, he provided some instant offense, but the Wolves, who are finally finding their groove after a spectacular 2023-24 season, were playing well, and building up a lead. The Dubs got back into it with a 7-0 run, and ended the quarter tied at 31.
And then came the turnovers. They came in droves, and they came in inexcusable fashion. After scoring two points to start the frame, the Warriors allowed Minnesota to score 12 consecutive points, and it wasn’t until a Green layup with about 5:30 left — which broke a streak of eight straight misses — that the Dubs scored again. The Wolves were shooting lights out, and the Warriors were gifting the ball on seemingly every possession. Suddenly it was a 23-2 run and a 19-point deficit, and the game felt out of reach.
Golden State did start to pull things together though, led by Green. They ended the half on an 11-2 run, and trailed 56-46 at the break.
But then came bad news. Moses Moody didn’t emerge from the tunnel at halftime and, right as the third quarter began, Wiggins aggravated his injured ankle. Both players were quickly ruled out for the rest of the game. It seemed to give the Warriors a dash of motivation though, as they went on an 11-4 run to start the quarter, making it a one-possession game and forcing a timeout from the Wolves.
And then the turnovers returned, at one point prompting Ryan Ruocco on the ESPN broadcast to accurately proclaim that “there have been a lot of aggressively bad passes tonight,” in reference to just one of the team’s on the court.
A turning point came with just over a minute remaining in the frame. The Wolves had built the lead up to nine points again, when Gary Payton II cut to the rim and finished through contact, earning a chance for a three-point play. But Minnesota challenged the call and won. Curry would briefly grab the momentum back though, splashing in a difficult three with just 0.6 seconds remaining, making it a 78-72 deficit heading into the fourth quarter.
An early three by Curry made it a single-possession game in the fourth, and then all hell broke lose. Mike Conley made a wild three, followed by a four-point play from Anthony Edwards. Golden State’s turnovers got worse and worse, stupider and stupider, more inexcusable and inexcusable, and it fueled a 17-2 run run that ended in Kerr waving the white flag.
Behind a season-worst 22 turnovers (and just 20 assists), the Warriors lost 107-90.
Curry led the way with 23 points, but shot just 6-for-17 from the field. Kuminga dropped in 13 points, but was a mere 6-for-15. Green had a well-rounded 10 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block, but, despite having just two turnovers, had a handful of questionable passes. Curry, Kuminga, Buddy Hield, and Gary Payton II each had three turnovers.
The Dubs shot just 39.0% from the field and 28.2% on threes. Minnesota’s starters, led by 30 points from Edwards, outscored Golden State’s starters 86-57.
But the Warriors will get a chance for revenge, as the teams face off again on Sunday night.