Anthony Edwards had 30 points and nine assists and the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Golden State Warriors 107-90 on Friday night in the first of two games between the teams this weekend.
Stephen Curry returned for Golden State after coming off a win over Houston a night earlier and resting his sore knees. He scored 23 points.
Curry’s 3-pointer with 10:38 left cut the score to 80-77, but the Warriors again struggled to take care of the ball and make key stops.
Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the T-Wolves, who remain in town to play again Sunday at Chase Center.
Draymond Green also played after missing Thursday due to tightness in his left calf. Green, who has played with the second unit at times when coach Steve Kerr wants a veteran on the floor, had 10 points, nine rebounds and six assists. He took his seventh technical this season.
Timberwolves: Minnesota has won its last five in the series and four in a row at Chase Center since a 12-game losing streak at the Warriors’ home ground ended. The Timberwolves had a 27-19 rebounding advantage in the first half on their way to a 56-46 halftime lead.
Warriors: Golden State scored just four points in the first nine minutes of the 15-point second quarter, when the Warriors were 5-of-19. The Warriors fell short late as Moses Moody dealt with left knee soreness and Andrew Wiggins a troublesome right ankle.
Gary Payton II’s layup after a pass from Curry with 1:18 left in the third would have cut Minnesota’s lead to seven points, but the Timberwolves challenged the play and it was negated in an offensive foul.
Curry scored his first points of the night with a 19-footer and was fouled, converting a three-point play with 32 seconds left in the first quarter. He missed his first four three-pointers and finished well behind at 3 for 9.
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