After a five-game absence due to a quad injury, Steph Curry made his highly anticipated return to the lineup on Friday night at Chase Center. The All-Star point guard showed no signs of rust, going to work early against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Curry tallied 10 points in the first frame on his way to a game-high 39 points. Curry recorded 39 points on 14-of-28 shooting from the field with six made 3-pointers to go along with five assists and five rebounds against the Timberwolves. Yet, it was not enough to answer the short-handed Timberwolves.
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With Anthony Edwards sidelined, the Timberwolves spoiled Curry’s fiery return with a 127-120 win over the Warriors on Friday night in San Francisco. The Timberwolves and Warriors battled all night in a game that featured 27 lead changes, the second most of any game in the NBA this season. However, it was the Timberwolves that had the final say.
In the fourth quarter, the Warriors clung to a three-point advantage to start the final frame. However, a scoreless stretch in the fourth quarter flipped the lead back in favor of the Timberwolves. The Warriors went ice cold for nearly five minutes in the fourth quarter as the Timberwolves went on a 17-0 run to take a 10-point lead with under six minutes remaining in the game. Yet, the Warriors weren’t done.
Golden State quickly erased Minnesota’s advantage behind Curry, De’Anthony Melton and Moses Moody. After a deep Curry 3-pointer, the Warriors stole the lead back from the Timberwolves with two minutes on the clock.
Over the final two minutes of the game, the Warriors went cold again, scoring just five points after Curry’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:09 on the clock. As the Warriors struggled down the stretch, former Warriors Donte DiVincenzo made a pair of 3-pointers to swing the game back in favor of the Timberwolves and seal the game, 127-120.
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DiVincenzo, Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert all tallied 21 or more points against the Warriors. Naz Reid tallied 18 points off the bench in Minnesota’s 127-120 victory over the Warriors.
Quinten Post continued his impressive sophomore season for the Warriors, scoring 16 points on 5-of-15 shooting from the field with four made triples to go along with six boards and three asissts.
Jonathan Kuminga went his second straight game without playing a minute for the Warriors. Seth Curry and rookie Will Richard also didn’t crack the rotation on Friday night.
The Warriors tough defense that has only allowed over 100 points once in their last six games was leaky on Friday, allowing 127 to the Timberwolves without Edwards. Golden State’s defense has only allowed 127 or more five times on the season.
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The Warriors will now get Saturday off before traveling to Portland for the start of a mini two-game road swing. The Warriors will meet the Trail Blazers on Sunday at 6 p.m. PT.
This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Timberwolves spoil Steph Curry’s return in back and forth battle
