Timberwolves lose to Warriors despite LaVine's double-double

By foxsports
Published

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Stephen Curry had 25 points and six assists, Klay Thompson scored 21 points and the Golden State Warriors shook off a two-game losing streak by rolling past the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves, 110-97 on Saturday night.

Four others scored in double digits as the NBA-leading Warriors (24-5) wore down the last-place Timberwolves in the second half. Golden State led by 27 points early in the fourth quarter and rested many of its regulars in the final minutes.

Thaddeus Young finished with 17 points and six rebounds, and Zach LaVine had 12 points and 14 assists in Minnesota's eighth straight loss. The injury-ravaged Wolves (5-24) are in last place in the Western Conference.

Golden State outshot Minnesota just 46.6 to 44.2 percent but kept mistakes to a minimum and controlled the pace from start to finish.

It was just the way the Warriors wanted to open a six-game home stretch after consecutive losses in Los Angeles to the Clippers and Lakers, and it was just the way they have responded under new coach Steve Kerr at any sign of trouble this season -- calm and in control.

The Warriors did it without a true center again as Andrew Bogut (right knee) and backup Festus Ezeli (left ankle) continue to recover from nagging injuries. With a deeper roster and a more talented backcourt, the lack of a big man proved to be no problem against a Minnesota team missing key contributors Ricky Rubio, Kevin Martin and Nikola Pekovic.

The Warriors never let the Wolves find a groove, spacing the floor with a smaller lineup -- starting Marreese Speights at center and bringing David Lee in behind him to keep the rest of the rotation intact.

Golden State pulled away for good by outscoring the Wolves 30-19 in the third quarter, when it turned its smothering defense into easy baskets. Minnesota had 25 turnovers, while the Warriors had just 16.

The Warriors went ahead by as many as 27 points before Kerr let his reserves finish the game. Curry and Thompson were among those who sat out the fourth quarter.