Stephen Curry scored 44 points to become the first player in NBA history to reach 40 points in a game 46 times after his 30th birthday, as the Golden State Warriors beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-114 on Wednesday night in Minneapolis. He needed his best statistical night of the early season to secure the win.
A game plan built around Curry
The Warriors’ coaching staff wanted to pull Rudy Gobert out of the paint, so they peppered the first half with high-screen action involving Curry, dragging the Timberwolves centre into space.
It worked. Minnesota, reeling and playing its first game since losing Anthony Edwards to an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee, was scattered in its coverage on the back end, and an aggressive Curry took full advantage.
The contrast with the previous game was stark. Two nights earlier, the Denver Nuggets sold out to stop Curry, and he attempted only one shot in the first half, finishing an efficient but quiet 8-of-8 from the field.
On Wednesday, Curry fired up six shots in the first seven minutes and then took 10 more in the second quarter. At halftime, he had 23 points on 8-of-16 shooting, including five 3-pointers. The fifth came from 31 feet, an audacious attempt that signalled Curry was in rhythm.
Lendeborg and a closing push
Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg was just as impressed. “I’m just watching like, man, this guy is good as hell,” he said. “It’s crazy. I caught myself shaking my head a couple times.”
The Warriors led by as many as 24 points, but Minnesota forced a batch of turnovers, quickened the pace against the older side and threatened deep into the fourth quarter.
Despite some wobbly moments, Curry and the Warriors held on. He dived on the floor for a third-quarter loose ball, saying later that it showed how well his body was feeling on a night he played more than 30 minutes for the first time this season.
Although Curry cooled off from the field in the fourth quarter, he kept the Timberwolves at bay from the free-throw line. He made all seven of his free throws in the final eight minutes and finished 16-of-16 from the line.
“We still have a lot of things to [improve], but you like learning lessons while you’re winning,” Curry said. “The 2-1 road trip is great. Step in the right direction.”
A rebound after a shaky start
The Warriors opened the season with three straight losses, including a 12-point collapse in the final three minutes of their home opener against the Memphis Grizzlies. With a demanding schedule ahead, there was some concern about an early-season spiral.
Golden State has since responded. It blew out the Nuggets in Denver on Monday night, with Lendeborg contributing 31 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in only his fourth career game. It then edged the Timberwolves behind a fresh Curry.
“There’s a slight bit of relief,” Curry said. “But still an understanding that in the Memphis game, the second half tonight, we know we can play better.”
Lendeborg finished with 26 points and nine rebounds against Minnesota, but Steve Kerr said the rookie was in a sour mood after the game because of his seven turnovers. “I played hella soft today,” Lendeborg said.
Next up: Doncic and the Lakers
The Warriors return to San Francisco for a six-game homestand that begins on Friday night against Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers crushed Golden State in the opener, and Lendeborg had a memorable dustup with Doncic that spilled over into the postgame news conferences.
Asked whether he was looking forward to the rematch, Lendeborg said, “Absolutely.”
“Yes, I am,” he said. “I’ll talk about that more on Friday.”