The Minnesota Timberwolves provided a much-needed response to their recent struggles, escaping San Francisco with a 127-117 victory over a severely depleted Golden State Warriors squad on Friday evening. The win halts a three-game losing streak that had left coach Chris Finch searching for answers, with all three defeats coming by double digits, including a particularly ugly 153-128 blowout loss to the Clippers just two days prior.
Anthony Edwards was the driving force behind Minnesota's success, putting on a scoring clinic that left little doubt about the Timberwolves' intentions. The talented guard torched the Warriors' defense to the tune of 42 points on an efficient 13-for-22 shooting, while also demonstrating his complete skill set with eight rebounds and five assists. Perhaps most impressively, Edwards showed ice in his veins at the free throw line, converting all 12 of his attempts. Rudy Gobert complemented Edwards' offensive explosion with a steady inside presence, recording 18 points and nine rebounds in what Finch had framed as a crucial game for his team's playoff aspirations.
The Warriors' task was made substantially more difficult by a laundry list of injuries that continued to plague their roster. Most notably, head coach Steve Kerr was forced to scratch Draymond Green less than an hour before tipoff due to lower back tightness, forcing Golden State to shuffle its lineup yet again. Kristaps Porzingis stepped into the starting five in Green's absence, marking the Warriors' 33rd different starting combination this season. Making his first start since being acquired from Atlanta at the trade deadline, Porzingis contributed 20 points in a respectable effort. Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors' scoring with 25 points, but it proved insufficient to overcome Minnesota's balanced attack.
The injury problems only multiplied as the game progressed. Al Horford exited during the first quarter with right calf tightness, while Seth Curry departed in the second half nursing a left inner thigh injury. Perhaps most significantly, the Warriors continued to miss Stephen Curry, who was sidelined for his 16th consecutive game and won't be available until at least next weekend. The three-time champion, who celebrates his 38th birthday on Saturday, has become the centerpiece of Golden State's injury concerns.
Minnesota appeared poised to run away with the contest, but Golden State mounted a late push when Gui Santos' three-pointer and Malevy Leons' dunk narrowed the gap to 109-102 with just 8:37 remaining. The Warriors couldn't sustain any momentum, however, as the Timberwolves' depth and Edwards' continued dominance proved too much to overcome down the stretch.
The loss represents Golden State's fourth consecutive defeat and sixth loss in their last seven games. Without Curry in the lineup, the Warriors have stumbled to a 9-18 record this season. This marks the seventh occasion in 2024-25 that Golden State has been without the combination of Curry, Green, and Jimmy Butler, who remains sidelined recovering from ACL surgery on his right knee.
The Timberwolves will look to build on this momentum when they visit Oklahoma City on Sunday to conclude their four-game road stretch, while the Warriors begin their own six-game road trip against the New York Knicks.