MINNEAPOLIS — Before the game, Steve Kerr was asked how long it might take for the Warriors to rediscover the identity they established during their 12-3 start.
The legendary coach had a surprising answer: one game.
“We know who we are,” Kerr said. “We know what we’re capable of. We’ve got to find the confidence again, and that can happen overnight. We need to click and have a good game, feel good about ourselves, and we’ll get back on track.”
Perhaps the Warriors had their breakthrough on Saturday in the Target Center. After a 25-minute delay for a pregame net malfunction, the Warriors locked up the Timberwolves in the first half and closed them out with the late-game execution that has often lacked this month.
Steph Curry scored 31 and canned a pair of daggers late in the fourth quarter, lifting the Warriors (15-12) to a much-needed 113-103win. They’d lost nine of their past 11 games entering Saturday, including the fourth biggest margin of defeat in franchise history.
Outplaying the Timberwolves — a team of similar stature in the West — was a nice reminder of who they are: a defensive-minded, fast-paced team with Curry as their ninth-inning weapon. It also helped that two of their struggling young players, Brandin Podziemski (12 points, 7 rebounds) and Trayce Jackson-Davis (15 points, 9 rebounds), each had the best games of their seasons.
Boo birds started chirping four minutes into the second quarter, when Jonathan Kuminga drilled a corner 3 to put the Warriors up 36-15.
Golden State had built a lead with strong defense. Despite missing Draymond Green, who tested out his sore left ankle in warmups but couldn’t go, the Warriors leaned defense with their starting lineup. Jackson-Davis played out of his mind on both ends to help the Warriors to an 11-4 start, logging six points, six rebounds, two blocks and an assist in six minutes.
Minnesota has been going through similar issues as the Warriors recently. On the same night the Warriors got trounced by 51 in Memphis, the Wolves lost by 26 to former franchise face Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks.
“We don’t have (expletive) on offense,” Minnesota superstar Anthony Edwards said after that loss. “We don’t have no identity. We know I’m gonna shoot a bunch of shots, we know (Julius Randle) gonna shoot a bunch of shots, that’s all we know.”
Edwards was on to something. The Warriors made the Timberwolves look completely lost on offense. Every possession was a struggle, including a three-second violation Kerr and the Warriors’ bench were particularly hyped about.
Edwards and Randle started a combined 1-for-16 and Minnesota scored just 37 points in the first half. Golden State limited the Wolves to 27.3% shooting and forced nine turnovers in the first two quarters.
But then suddenly, the floodgates opened. Golden State’s same starters that smothered Minnesota got picked apart to open the second half. Edwards relentlessly attacked the rim, creating clean looks for his teammates. Donte DiVincenzo, Naz Reid and Julius Randle got hot from 3.
The Warriors took a 38-29 quarter on the chin.
Tweaking Curry’s substitution pattern, the Warriors brought their star back in for the finishing kick in an 84-84 game. He sat for the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth before returning with eight minutes left.
Upon his return, Curry ran pick-and-rolls with Jackson-Davis, who has seemingly rediscovered his finishing touch. The center dunked on Rudy Gobert twice, including on a putback, and added a layup from a Curry pocket pass. Podziemski added a tipback as Edwards nailed back-to-back 3s from above the break to answer Golden State’s push.
The five of Curry, Podziemski, Kuminga Jackson-Davis and Andrew Wiggins looked cohesive. Edwards tried to take over for Minnesota, so Kerr countered by inserting Gary Payton II in for Kuminga.
Wiggins — who has had a terrific two-way season — blocked Randle in the post, leading to a Curry 3 on the other end. He hopped in front of Golden State’s bench before nailing another one, skipping at halfcourt in celebration.
The daggers looked like they meant more. Given how tough it has been for the Warriors, they probably did.