What we wrote as Steph, TJD, Podz lead Warriors’ win over Wolves first appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
After the Warriors led the Timberwolves throughout the first half and into the second Saturday night in Minnesota, they faced their demons again and again.
Will they still manage another double-digit lead in the second half?
Stephen Curry provided the answer, scoring 13 points in the final 3:38 Guard a 113-103 long That gave Golden State its second win in 16 days, including both against Minnesota.
Five Warriors scored in double figures, with Curry finishing with a game-high 31 points and adding 10 assists. Brandin Podziemski (12 points), Jonathan Kuminga (11) and Buddy Hield (11) combined for 34 of Golden State’s 46 bench points.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, getting his first start this month, finished with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Here are three takeaways from a good win for the Warriors:
Sixteen lineups are good in the short term
Coach Steve Kerr continues to tinker with lineups, sometimes because of injuries and sometimes out of desperation. Once Draymond Green, listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain, was determined after his pregame warmup, it was tinker time again.
Golden State opened with its 16th lineup of the season: Dennis Schröder and Curry at guard, Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson up front, with Jackson-Davis at center. It was Anderson’s first start of the season; he is the only player in the rotation who has not started at least once.
It worked well in the first half, as the Warriors took from the start, went up as much as 21 points, and took a 13-point lead into the break. Jackson-Davis was especially effective early, making six points, six rebounds and two blocks in the first six minutes.
The same lineup opened the second half but was ineffective against the rallying Timberwolves. The first half advantage disappeared in less than eight minutes, as Minnesota’s increased determination led to 71.4-percent shooting in the third quarter.
The mixed results indicate that there will definitely be a different lineup, possibly as soon as Monday.
How early is the defense even without Draymond
Although Green is “questionable” on the injury report with a left ankle sprain, Kerr is hopeful – until Draymond’s pregame warmup convinces the Warriors that he should sit out.
So much for an early defensive tone set, eh?
Well, no.
The Warriors held Minnesota to a field goal over the first four minutes and closed the first quarter with a 13-5 run to take a 26-15 lead. They kept it up in the second quarter, going on a 10-0 run in the first four minutes.
The Timberwolves missed 14 consecutive shots while going more than seven minutes without a bucket. The Warriors during that period outscored the Timberwolves 16-0 and limited them to 27.3-percent shooting, including 23.5 percent from deep, in the first half.
The Warriors over the first 24 minutes played some of their best defense of the season. That they did it without Draymond has to be encouraging.
Schröder, Game 2
Schröder’s Golden State debut was so forgettable for himself and his new team that his second game in to be progressive. It was. Few.
Also starting at point guard, allowing Curry to spend a few minutes on the ball, Schröder looked more comfortable teammates joined five days ago. He is not sharp, but he is more confident in his movements and shows more enthusiasm to communicate.
Schröder finished with nine points on 3-of-8 shooting from the field, including 0-of-4 from beyond the arc, along with three assists and two rebounds. He had three turnovers and was minus-9 over 27 minutes.
Schröder is getting closer to reuniting better with his colleagues. Once that happens, your offensive production should follow.
