Dubs give up 19-point advantage, lose in overtime to Timberwolves 131-130
What seemed to be a sure win turned into a likely defeat somehow made its way to overtime, but the dramatics were just getting started in what resulted in a 131-130 loss in Minnesota on Friday.
Down by nine with a little over a minute and a half left in overtime, the Warriors started their second comeback of the game. And after a potential game-tying 3-pointer by Kevin Durant was waved off with 4.4 seconds left, denying the Dubs an opportunity to go ahead with a four-point play, Stephen Curry tied the game moments later with his 11th 3-pointer of the game, leaving 0.5 seconds left for Minnesota to attempt a game-winning shot.
After moving the ball upcourt with a timeout, the Timberwolves took the ball out and attempted a lob pass to Karl-Anthony Towns, who was fouled by Durant with no time going off the clock. Towns made his first free throw, sealing the most unusual of defeats for the Dubs.
That the Dubs lost this one came as a result of sluggish play in the third quarter. After closing the first half with a barrage of 3-pointers and leading by as many as 19 points, the Dubs couldn’t get a shot to fall in the third quarter, going 0-for-9 from distance in the period. Meanwhile, Minnesota came roaring back thanks to 10-0 and 14-4 runs and entered the fourth quarter with the score tied at 86-86.
The Warriors’ slide continued as the fourth went on, eventually going as far down as nine points with just over five minutes left in regulation. The defense returned and the lid came off the bucket as the Dubs willed their way back into it; four clutch three-pointers, including a Curry forward-diving three with under one minute left brought them to within one point of Minnesota. Draymond Green was later fouled and hit one of two free-throws, tying it all up at 115. With 21.8 seconds on the clock, the Timberwolves took a timeout to advance the ball and set themselves up for a potential game winner, but the Dubs’ defense held them from scoring, sending the game into overtime.
Stephen Curry finished the game with 37 points on 11-of-19 from three-point range, and Kevin Durant had a 23-point, 12 rebound double-double. Klay Thompson (11,905) had 20 points and in the process passed Purvis Short (11,894) for 8th on the Warriors all-time points list.
With the loss, the Warriors fall to 51-24 on the season and are back in a tie with Denver for first place in the West. The Dubs will be back home for four of their next five games, and that home stretch begins on Sunday with a matchup against the Hornets and continues on Tuesday againsnt the Nuggets.
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More Notable Moments:
- Golden State is an NBA best 25-12 (.676) on the road this season … The Warriors have won 21 of their last 26 games on the road and five of the last six away from home.
- Golden State shot 48.4 percent from beyond the arc (15-of-31 3FG) tonight … It’s the 23rd game this season with at least 15 three-point field goals made … The Warriors are 22-1 this year when accomplishing the feat.
- The Warriors handed out 30 assists and are now 29-4 this season when dishing out 30-or-more assists.
- Additionally, the Warriors shot 53.6 percent from field … They are 18-1 this year when shooting above 50 percent from the field and handing out at least 30 assists.
- It was the Warriors 15th win this season when trailing by 10-or-more points … Additionally, it was the 6th time the Warriors have trailed by 10-plus points and won by 10-or-more points.
- Kevin Durant scored a game-high tying 28 points on 12-of-13 shooting, the most efficient shooting game of his NBA career. He previously shot 8-of-9 (88.9% FG) on 2/12/18 vs. Phoenix. Durant made all seven of his shots in the first half which according the ESPN Stats & Info is his most makes without a miss in a half this season. Additionally, it’s tied for Durant’s second-most makes without a miss in a half in his career. He made his first 10 attempts before missing.
- DeMarcus Cousins scored 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting. Over his last three games played, the center is averaging 18.0 points (38 points) while shooting 60.5% percent from the field (123-of-38 FG). He has scored 10-or-more points in each of his last 14 games played.
- Cousins recorded his 10th multi-block game this season and 5th game with at least three-plus blocks.
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