Curry is back to being Curry: a timeless performance to rescue the Warriors

Stephen Curry has once again demonstrated that he is still capable of deciding games on his own. The star of the Golden State Warriors scored 44 points to lead the victory 119-114 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, a result that allows the San Francisco team to string together two consecutive wins after starting the season with three losses. The point guard delivered his best scoring performance of the season and left a historic mark in the NBA, although the Warriors had to hold on until the end to secure the win.

Curry surpassed 40 points for the 46th time since turning 30, a league record. His display came at an important moment for Golden State, which had begun the campaign with doubts after blowing a 12-point lead in the last three minutes of their first home game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

After defeating the Denver Nuggets on Monday, the Warriors confirmed their rebound against Minnesota. This time, the win had Curry as the absolute protagonist, both for his scoring ability and for the way the team designed its offensive strategy to exploit the defensive weaknesses of the Timberwolves.

Curry punishes Minnesota with a strategy designed to pull Gobert out of the paint

The point guard's performance was not solely the result of his individual inspiration. The Golden State coaching staff prepared a plan to force Rudy Gobert to leave the area near the basket and defend further from the hoop. To achieve this, the Warriors repeatedly used pick-and-rolls involving Curry, forcing the French center to step out to the perimeter.

The tactic worked for much of the first half. Minnesota struggled to organize its defense and gave up space that Curry took advantage of to shoot frequently and find his rhythm from the early minutes.

The difference compared to the previous game against Denver was notable. Two nights prior, the Nuggets had concentrated their defensive efforts on stopping the point guard, who only attempted one shot during the first half. Nevertheless, he finished that game with a perfect record of eight shots made out of eight attempts.

Against the Timberwolves, Curry found many more opportunities. He took six shots during the first seven minutes and added another ten attempts in the second quarter. By halftime, he had accumulated 23 points, with eight makes on 16 attempts and five three-pointers converted.

The fifth shot from beyond the arc came from approximately 9.5 meters. A considerable distance that once again showcased the player's confidence when he finds his groove.

The display even impressed one of his younger teammates. “I can only say: wow, how good is this guy!” commented rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. “It's crazy. I surprised myself shaking my head a couple of times, unable to believe it.”

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The Warriors withstand the reaction of a Timberwolves team missing Anthony Edwards

Golden State enjoyed a 24-point lead, but the game was far from being resolved. The Timberwolves increased their pressure, forced turnovers, and quickened the pace to try to capitalize on the difficulties of a veteran team like Steve Kerr's when the game became more frantic.

The Minnesota response kept uncertainty alive until well into the final quarter. The Warriors experienced some moments of instability and allowed their rivals to close the gap on the scoreboard, forcing themselves to resolve the game in the final minutes.

Anthony Edwards's absence also affected the context of the game. The Timberwolves were playing their first game since it was announced that their star would undergo arthroscopy on his right knee, a procedure that could keep him off the court for up to two months.

Without their main offensive reference, Minnesota needed to find other ways to compete. The team was able to discomfort Golden State and take advantage of some mistakes, but could not complete the comeback.

Curry, meanwhile, continued to be the main guarantee for the Warriors. In the third quarter, he dove to the floor to contest a loose ball, an action he later explained as a sign of how good he felt physically. Additionally, he surpassed 30 minutes of play for the first time this season.

In the final period, he lost some effectiveness in his field goal attempts but found another way to close out the game: the free-throw line. Curry made all seven attempts he took in the last eight minutes and finished with a flawless 16 of 16 from the charity stripe.

Second consecutive victory for a Warriors team that is starting to respond

The victory over Minnesota allows Golden State to ease some of the concerns generated by their poor start. The Warriors had strung together three losses in their first games, including the painful fall to Memphis after squandering a 12-point lead in the last three minutes.

The situation had fueled doubts about the team's ability to maintain consistency in a season with a demanding schedule. However, victories against Denver and Minnesota have provided a positive response.

Curry particularly valued the opportunity to correct mistakes while still racking up wins. “We still have a lot of things to improve, but it’s positive to learn lessons while winning,” he stated. “Ending the road trip with a 2-1 record is fantastic. It’s a step in the right direction.”

The point guard also did not hide that the team is still far from its best version. “There is a certain relief,” he acknowledged. “But we are aware that, both in the game against Memphis and in the second half today, we can play much better.”

The victory thus has a dual value for the Warriors: they regain confidence after a complicated start and do so with a performance from Curry that confirms his ability to make a difference even when the team goes through phases of disconnection.

Yaxel Lendeborg shines again but finishes frustrated

In addition to Curry’s 44 points, Yaxel Lendeborg made another significant contribution. The rookie finished the game with 26 points and nine rebounds, after having a performance of 31 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists in Monday’s victory against Denver.

His offensive impact has been one of the positive notes of this season's start for Golden State. However, the player did not finish satisfied with his performance against Minnesota, especially due to the mistakes made during the game.

Coach Steve Kerr noted that Lendeborg was visibly upset after registering seven turnovers. The player himself acknowledged his frustration without making excuses.

“Today I played with a total lack of intensity,” he admitted.

The self-criticism reflects that, despite his good offensive numbers, the rookie still has aspects to improve to contribute more regularly. His turnovers gave Minnesota chances to respond and kept the Warriors under pressure during the final stretch.

The standout statistics

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The Lakers await Curry and the Warriors in San Francisco

Golden State now returns to San Francisco to play a series of six consecutive home games. The first will be on Friday, when the Warriors host the Los Angeles Lakers, led by Luka Dončić.

The matchup will have added appeal for Lendeborg. In the season opener, the Lakers crushed Golden State, and the rookie featured in a tense altercation with Dončić, an incident that was even discussed during the post-game press conferences.

When asked if he was looking forward to the opportunity to face the Lakers again, Lendeborg did not hesitate to respond. “Of course.”

The Warriors arrive at the matchup with two consecutive victories and Curry in great scoring form. The response still needs to be consolidated, but the team has found reasons for optimism after a 0-3 start. Their next challenge will be to prove they can maintain the level against one of their toughest rivals, this time in front of their home crowd.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Curry vuelve a ser Curry: exhibición atemporal para rescatar a los Warriors