tales from the game tape * min vs gsw

A clash of grit and pace, where high-speed offense meets lockdown defense in a pivotal rematch

Last night, the NBA featured back-to-back matchups between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors. Dubbed the Warriors’ boogeyman, the Timberwolves had won the last five contests between the two teams. They seemed to have the Warriors’ number, and some of those games weren’t even close.

Many predicted another victory for Minnesota. Who wouldn’t? The evidence was stacked against the Warriors, especially with key piece Andrew Wiggins sidelined by injury—it seemed all but certain.

In the end, however, it was the Warriors who got to say "night night." How did the reigning Conference Finalists fall to an injured and struggling team?

Let’s dive into the game tape to uncover the full narrative behind this upset.

The Chef Serves Up a Masterclass

One could say Chef Curry was in prime form, and even that might be an understatement. The Warriors simply could not have won without Steph lighting it up from all three levels.

Coming off a 6-for-17 performance in Friday’s game against the Wolves, many thought Jaden McDaniels had cracked the code to stopping the Baby-Faced Assassin. Early on, it seemed like history might repeat itself—Curry was locked down, scoring just 4 points in the first quarter.

But as history has also shown, underestimating Curry is a mistake. He erupted for 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting in the second quarter, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. To top it off, he nailed a crucial buzzer-beater at the end of the third quarter, shifting the game’s momentum. Despite Curry’s dominance—finishing with 30 points and 8 assists—no other Warrior scored more than 8 points in the first half.

For the Warriors to pull off the victory and overcome a 9-point deficit, fans had to place their faith in the rest of the roster. We’ll dive into that later.

Talking Trash and Drawing Fouls

Last night’s marquee matchup was emotional, to say the least. With a lot of history between these two teams and Ant as an expressive superstar, fans were eagerly anticipating the tension spilling over into a full-blown scuffle—perhaps even another Draymond chokehold moment. While it didn’t turn into a WWE reenactment, the game was rife with fouls and chirping, both of which undeniably influenced the outcome.

Anthony Edwards picked up a technical early for shoving Kuminga, but the situation was quickly defused. Jaden McDaniels, the Timberwolves’ best defender, found himself in foul trouble with four fouls, which limited his minutes. This opened the door for Curry to take advantage of the reserves, finding space to catch fire.

On the other side, Draymond Green finished with five fouls, one of which came from making contact with Gobert’s eye on a drive. While these fouls could have opened up the paint for Minnesota, Steve Kerr opted to keep Green in, trusting his veteran not to pick up fouls in bunches. With Draymond anchoring Golden State’s defense, the Warriors secured the win.

Rain Ends The Drought

As mentioned earlier, Curry carried the offense through the first half, and it seemed like his supporting cast’s slump was destined to continue. 

But Shoutout Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga.

Utilizing a small-ball lineup that has brought success to the Bay in the past, Steve Kerr maximized Kuminga’s athleticism and Hield’s shooting range to combat the Stifle Tower in the paint. With Hield pouring in 27 points and Kuminga adding 20, the Warriors’ roster suddenly appeared much deeper than it truly is.

The Dubs outscored the Timberwolves 44-32 in the third quarter, with Steph capping it off in style—a 39-foot buzzer-beater that electrified the arena. Buddy Buckets chipped in 11 points in the quarter, helping spark a 14-3 run to tie the game, while Kuminga also contributed 11 points during the same stretch. Their impact was undeniable, shaping the game and paving the way for the Warriors’ success last night.

Ant-man Strikes Again

While the Timberwolves came up short, credit must be given where it’s due. Amid the trash-talking and intensity, Anthony Edwards stood head and shoulders above the rest of his team. He delivered 27 points on an efficient 10-of-19 shooting, with 18 of those points coming in the second half. Edwards also silenced any doubts about his “ineffective three-point shooting,” knocking down five triples throughout the game.

In contrast, the rest of the roster struggled to find their rhythm once the momentum shifted. This inefficiency was highlighted by Randle’s 14 points on 14 shot attempts—a far cry from the team's stellar showing in the previous matchup against Golden State.

That said, fans shouldn’t be alarmed. Minnesota has been performing significantly better after a rocky start to the season, and there’s little doubt they’ll return to their usual level of effectiveness soon.

Glass Cleaner No Windex

On paper, the Timberwolves appeared poised to dominate on both offensive and defensive rebounds. Yet, last night’s game proved to be another bizarre anomaly, as Golden State outrebounded Minnesota 56 to 46.

The Warriors especially excelled on the offensive glass, doubling the Wolves’ output with 14 offensive rebounds. More importantly, they capitalized on these second-chance opportunities, outscoring Minnesota 19-4 in second-chance points.

With TJD out, Kevon Looney stepped up as the premier big man on the court, grabbing a team-high 5 offensive rebounds as part of his 12-point, 9-rebound performance. Additionally, Gary Payton II played well above his height, securing 4 offensive boards of his own, ensuring the Warriors walked out of Chase Center with another win under their belt.

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