Stephen Curry Scores 44 as Warriors Beat Timberwolves

Stephen Curry kept walking to the free throw line in Minneapolis and kept making them, 16 for 16, on his way to a season-high 44 points as the Golden State Warriors held off the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-114 on Wednesday night at Target Center. He added eight rebounds and six assists, and Golden State hung on after watching a 24-point lead nearly disappear.

The win is the second straight for the Warriors after an 0-3 start, moving them to 2-3. Minnesota went the other way, dropping its second in a row after opening 3-0, and this was the Wolves' first game since announcing Anthony Edwards will miss extended time after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Edwards was averaging 33.3 points through four games.

Curry Lived at the Line

Curry shot 11 of 27 from the field and 6 of 16 from three, so it was not his cleanest shooting night. He made up for it by attacking. Those 16 free throws were more than half of Golden State's 30 makes at the line, and the Warriors finished 30 of 37 there compared to 19 of 27 for Minnesota.

Golden State led 64-48 at halftime, and for a while it looked like a laugher. Watching Curry draw contact over and over on a night his jumper was streaky was a reminder that he still has more than one way to beat you.

A Rookie Stepped Up

Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg gave Curry real help with 26 points on 11 of 20 shooting and nine rebounds. He did have seven turnovers, but the scoring punch was exactly what the Warriors needed as Minnesota came storming back. Golden State won the glass 53-42 and outscored the Wolves 54-46 in the paint.

A rookie dropping 26 on the road is the kind of night that gets a fan base excited about what is next.

Minnesota Almost Pulled It Off

The Wolves won the third and fourth quarters, 66-55 combined, and cut it to 116-112 late. Jaden McDaniels had two looks from deep in the final minute to make it a one-possession game and missed both. Jonathan Kuminga, who was drafted seventh overall by Golden State in 2021, led Minnesota with 20 points against his old team. McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr. each scored 19.

LaMelo Ball struggled for a second straight game, finishing with eight points on 3 of 11 shooting and 2 of 8 from three. Minnesota hit 15 threes, but it took 45 attempts to get there.

Without Edwards, the Wolves are going to need more than one good half, and Wolves fans saw both sides of that on Wednesday.

Smacktok Pick Lean

Lean higher on Curry's made free throws when the Warriors host the Lakers on Friday night. He took 16 free throws and a team-high 27 shots in 32 minutes on Wednesday, and when his three-point shot is not falling he has shown he will keep getting downhill.