“That was a team win” (Warriors) win vs Timberwolves – 109-104

In San Francisco, the Golden State Warriors managed to secure a 109-104 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, despite struggling to close games all season. The Warriors almost suffered another defeat when Anthony Lamb turned the ball over with 26 seconds left, allowing the Timberwolves to cut their lead to three. But, unlike previous games, the Warriors managed to clamp down on their opponents and hold on for the win.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr praised his team’s grit and effort, calling it a “team win” and noting that “everybody came in there and competed and played well”. Donte DiVincenzo credited the win to the team’s heart and the message of staying focused during timeouts.

After a slow start, the momentum of the game shifted for the Warriors with 8:20 left in the fourth quarter. Kerr’s timeout talk completely shifted the team’s energy, and they went on a 23-5 run, outscoring the Timberwolves 31-17 overall during that period. Klay Thompson led the way with 32 points, including a monster 3-pointer around the two-minute mark. Thompson has been carrying the team in the absence of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, and Andre Iguodala.

Thompson has made 18 3-pointers over his last two games, including a 42-point performance where he hit 12 3-pointers and no 2-pointers. DiVincenzo praised Thompson, calling him a “Hall of Famer” and saying “Klay Thompson is still Klay Thompson at the end of the day. That rim is this big at all times. And I love that.”

The win was a massive confidence booster for the Warriors, who have no clear timetable for the return of their absent players. The win also had a big impact on the standings, as the Warriors and Timberwolves were tied for seventh and eighth place in the play-in tournament before the game. With Golden State’s win, they now have a half-game advantage for seventh place over the Utah Jazz and trail the Dallas Mavericks in sixth by another half-game. Thompson emphasized the importance of keeping an eye on the standings, saying that “every game from here on out is incredibly important.”