Stephen Curry scored 44 points to become the first player to eclipse 40 points 46 times since his 30th birthday, an NBA record, as the Golden State Warriors beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-114 on Wednesday night in Minneapolis.
Curry Attacks the Game Plan
The Warriors’ coaching staff wanted to pull Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert out of the paint, so they ran a heavy dose of high-screen action with Curry in the first half to drag Gobert into space. It worked. Minnesota, playing its first game since losing Anthony Edwards to an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee, struggled to cover in the back end, and Curry shredded them.
Two nights earlier, the Denver Nuggets had sold out to stop him. Curry attempted only one shot in the first half of that game and finished 8-of-8 from the field, an efficient but quiet night. Against Minnesota, he fired up six shots in the first seven minutes and 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 Curry typically takes only when he is in rhythm.
Lendeborg Impresses in Rookie Season
Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg also drew attention. He finished with 26 points and nine rebounds, but he was frustrated after committing seven turnovers. Coach Steve Kerr said the rookie was in a sour mood after the game.
“I played hella soft today,” Lendeborg said.
Curry, meanwhile, was watching his young teammate closely. “I’m just watching like, man, this guy is good as hell,” Lendeborg said of Curry. “It’s crazy. I caught myself shaking my head a couple times.”
Warriors Hold Off Late Push
Golden State led by as many as 24 points, but Minnesota forced a series of turnovers, sped up the older Warriors and threatened deep into the fourth quarter. Curry helped steady the team. He dove on the floor for a loose ball in the third quarter, a sign, he said, of how well his body was feeling on a night he played more than 30 minutes for the first time this season. In the fourth quarter, even while cooling off from the field, he sealed the win at 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.”
Turnaround After a Rough 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 scoring 31 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and handing out six assists in only his fourth career game. The Warriors then survived Minnesota behind a rejuvenated 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.”
Lakers Rematch Looms
The Warriors return home for a six-game homestand that opens Friday night against Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers. Los Angeles crushed Golden State in the season 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.”