The Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) throws down on the Minnesota Timberwolves Rudy Gobert (27) at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Sun Nov 27, 2022 (AP News photo)
Huge First Quarter Gives Warriors Road Win Over Timberwolves 137-114
By Barbara Mason
Sunday afternoon the Golden State Warriors (11-10) took on the Minnesota Timberwolves (10-10) at Target Center. The Warriors have only won one game on the road and of late have been playing some outstanding basketball. They have, of course, been excellent at Chase Center and Sunday’s game will have a lot to say in regards to how this team is playing whether it be on the road or at home. This time on the road where they had a big first quarter to defeat the Timberwolves 137-114.
If the first quarter was any indication, Golden State is back in championship form. They were nothing shot of amazing. They led after the first twelve minutes by twenty points 47-27 shooting at 72%. It could not have been a better start for the Warriors and they would have to keep up the furious pace. through three more quarters.
Minnesota made a bit of a move to start the second quarter. The Timberwolves cut their deficit from 20 to 13 which prompted a Warrior time-out with 11:17 left in the half. Golden State needed to keep their foot on the pedal against a very good Minnesota team.
The Warriors pulled it all together as Jordan Poole went into attack mode and extended their lead back out to 57-38. Minnesota was struggling from beyond the arc and the Warriors wanted to go into halftime with the momentum they started the game with. Golden State has started games hot in the first quarter and not in the second and this is something they want to put in the rearview. Golden State had a 76-56 halftime lead.
The Warriors hung onto the lead through the third quarter. They won the first quarter but came away even in the second and third quarters. Going into the fourth quarter Golden State had a 109-89 lead.
The Timberwolves made things a bit tight trailing by ten points with 5:29 left in the game. Golden State pulled it together courtesy of stars, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Poole with a little icing on the cake thanks to a triple from Donte DiVincenzo.
There were six Warriors in double digits this afternoon. They shot 57% from the field and had 20 from downtown. Draymond Green had his first double double of the season. Curry had the high with 25 points closely followed by Poole with 24. Thompson had 21 points with critical three’s from Thompson and Curry to finish off Minnesota.
Anthony Edwards had the high for the Timberwolves with 26 points but they couldn’t keep pace with the Warriors. When push came to shove they fell short.
The Warriors continue this brief road trip taking on the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 PM.