Crime novel in Minneapolis! The Minnesota Timberwolves have narrowly won a thrilling game against the Golden State Warriors. In the 109:103 from Wolves’ point of view, Karl-Anthony Towns is the outstanding player.
The Wolves opened the game with the usual lineup without Jimmy Butler – Jeff Teague, Andrew Wiggins, Nemanja Bjelica, Taj Gibson and Karl-Anthony Towns started the game. The Warriors were missing besides Stephen Curry also Andre Iguodala, so Quinn Cook, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and JaVale McGee started.
The better start, however, was made by the hosts. The ball circulated well at the Wolves, 6 of the 7 first field goals followed an assist, and after just under six minutes Minnesota led 20:11 after a Wiggins 3-man. Up to the end of the quarter they made it a 34:24 lead – also thanks to newcomer Derrick Rose, who was replaced early – but the Dubs immediately countered it with an 8:0 run.
Within a few minutes it even turned out to be a 20:4 run before Thibodeau reacted and brought several starters back into the match. In particular Durant was now in the rhythm, Golden State led with 11. Until the break, however, Towns and Wiggins brought their team back to 55:62, so everything remained open.
And so it continued. Durant cooled down massively in the third quarter and on both sides the focus was once again more on defense. After a steal, Teague took the Wolves back into the lead for the first time, whereupon Wiggins immediately followed by a threesome. But then the bank breathed life back into the dubs-and it went into the last quarter at 84:84.
Thibs then largely dispensed with experiments and sent fewer banking-heavy lineups to the court. This paid off – a Towns three-man gave the Wolves a 99:92 lead just six minutes before the end. Durant was one last time, but at a point in the lead, Towns scored an incredible throw over Green about one minute before the end. In the next attack, he personally scored 5 points after Putback – then Cook Teague sent Teague to the free-throw line. Another stop against Durant later on, the Wolves had the victory.
Towns was the best player of his team with 31 points and 16 rebounds, but Wiggins (23) also cut a very good figure offensively and defensively. Four other players landed in Double Figures. At the Warriors, Durant scored 39 points and 12 rebounds, but KD only scored 11 of his 32 throws. And there was a lack of support. Thompson scored 21 points, Pachulia delivered 16 and 11 from the bank, Green delivered 10 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. However, the Warriors did not achieve much from downtown.
The Warriors stay in second place in the West because of the defeat. Minnesota got some fresh air in the incredibly close race for the playoffs after their third win in a row.
Minnesota Timberwolves (39-29) vs. Golden State Warriors (51-16)109:103 (BOXSCORE)
Karl Towns. That’s how you want to see the Big Man – dominant in the offense and at least as a disruptive factor in the defensive. His versatility and physicality was beyond Green’s control and his work on the board was worth its weight in gold. Especially in the crunchtime, almost everything at Minnesota was about KAT.
The shooters of the Warriors. Durant scored 5/12 from downtown, the remaining Warriors scored 5/24 combined – that’s a bit too little. Especially Thompson (3/12) and Young (0/4) were disappointed in this respect.
According to Rose’s commitment, many fans had been “feared” that this minute would steal from the strong backup PG Jones – indeed, Thibodeau brought his old acquaintance into the game early on in the first quarter. Rose didn’t play, however, but alongside Jones and sometimes Crawford. However, it had to be noted that this did not fit together at all. Rose looked enormously rusty (-17 in 7 minutes) and was not used in the second half. The former MVP still has to find its shape.