Breaking: Timberwolves silence Curry’s return with stunning 17-0 finish
Stephen Curry lit up the night. Minnesota stole the win. In a wild finish at Chase Center, the Timberwolves closed with a 17-0 run and beat the Warriors 127 to 120 on Friday night, flipping a celebration into a stunner. Curry scored 39 in his first game back from a strained left quad. The Wolves calmly answered, then slammed the door.
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Curry’s fire, Minnesota’s answer
Curry looked fresh, fast, and free. He went 14 for 28 from the field and 6 for 15 from three. He had the handle, the movement, the deep splash. The building rose with him. It felt like old times.
It did not matter in the final four minutes. Minnesota found stops, owned the glass, and trusted the pass. Donte DiVincenzo drilled back to back daggers from the right wing. Julius Randle powered through smaller bodies. Rudy Gobert cleaned every miss. The Warriors went scoreless as the Wolves kept stacking points.
Game breaker, Minnesota closed on a 17-0 run, turning a tight fourth quarter into a statement road win.
How the Wolves won the night
This was a depth win. Minnesota played without Anthony Edwards and Mike Conley, yet looked steady late. Randle set the tone with force, posting 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists. Gobert owned the paint with 24 points and 14 boards, changing shots and sealing space. Naz Reid added 18. Jaden McDaniels chipped in 17 and chased shooters into tough looks.
The shot quality shifted as the Wolves leaned on two things, rim pressure and poise. Randle drew help, Gobert rolled hard, and the kickouts found rhythm. DiVincenzo’s threes were clean because the action before them was sharp. Minnesota shot 53.9 percent for the game. When it mattered, they got the looks they wanted.
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Numbers that tell the story
- Timberwolves 127, Warriors 120
- Minnesota closed with a 17-0 run
- Curry 39 points, 14 for 28, 6 for 15 from three
- Randle 27, Gobert 24 and 14, Reid 18, McDaniels 17
- Warriors 32.6 percent from three
The other problem in Golden State
Curry returned. The rest is still unsettled. Golden State played without Draymond Green and Al Horford. That took away backbone defense and frontcourt passing. The Warriors never found a second pulse behind Steph. They finished 13 for 40 from deep and slipped to 13 and 13.
The fourth quarter exposed the roster squeeze. Without Green, there was no organizer on the back line. Without Horford, there was no stretch big to pull Gobert away from the rim. Role players had clean looks and missed. The offense leaned back onto Curry, possession after possession, and Minnesota loaded up.
This is the gap right now. Curry can glow hot. But when the game slows late, the Warriors need a second creator and a rebounding answer. Neither showed up. The Wolves took what was offered and made it count.
Standings check, Minnesota improves to 16 and 9. Golden State drops to 13 and 13.
What this means in the West
For Minnesota, this is the blueprint. Win with length, balance, and closing force. They beat a hostile crowd and a Hall of Fame scorer by trusting their core. Randle and Gobert look comfortable together. The bench gives pace and size. When Edwards returns, the ceiling climbs higher.
For Golden State, the math is simple. Curry is back, and that matters. But the Warriors need Draymond’s edge and Horford’s stability to manage games like this. The schedule offers little mercy. The West is packed, and a .500 record is a tightrope.
The vibe said it all. Curry’s threes brought roars. The Wolves’ run brought silence. Minnesota walked off with a win that felt like more than one game. It felt like a message.
Key adjustment, if Green or Horford returns soon, expect more small two man actions to free Curry off the ball.
