The Golden State Warriors’ season record dropped to 36-34 after their 114-110 loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. The Houston Rockets are currently only one game behind the Washington Wizards for the Western Conference’s 10th seed, which is the last slot available in the play-in round. The Warriors must act swiftly if they wish to avoid being selected in the NBA Draft lottery.
If the length of a team’s lead determined the winner, the Warriors would most likely be among the top five seeds in the league. Even though Golden State led for most of the game—trailing for only a few minutes in each of the first three quarters—they were unsuccessful once more.
Leading the Warriors with 31 points, Steph Curry was followed in double digits by Klay Thompson (16), Andrew Wiggins (15), Jonathan Kuminga (14), and Draymond Green (12). Since Curry was the only Warriors player who consistently scored points throughout the game, head coach Steve Kerr’s reluctance to increase Curry’s playing time in the closing minutes of the game was especially puzzling.
Curry played less than thirty minutes in the game, despite the fact that neither side led by more than eight points in the second half and the Wolves established an early lead in the fourth quarter that they would never give up. Even for Kerr’s traditionally conservative approach to top player usage, it was an odd rotation.
While Rudy Gobert recorded a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds, Anthony Edwards led the Wolves with 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists. However, Naz Reid was the game-changing player for Minnesota. Reid finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 of his 11 field goals (6 of his 8 from three) were made.
The Warriors will now go to Florida to play two games against the Sunshine State. On Tuesday, they’ll take on the Heat in Miami.
