What we learned as Steph, TJD and Podz led the Warriors’ win over the Wolves originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

After leading the Timberwolves in the first half and second Saturday night in Minnesota, the Warriors once again faced their most common demons.

Would they blow another double-digit lead in the second half?

Stephen Curry provided the answer, scoring 13 points in 3:38 in the finale to secure a 113-103 victory that gave Golden State its second win in 16 days, both against Minnesota.

Five Warriors scored in double figures, with Curry finishing the game with 31 points and adding 10 assists. Brandin Podziemski (12 points), Jonathan Kuminga (11) and Buddy Hield (11) combined for 34 of Golden State’s 46 bench points.

Trayce Jackson-Davis, making his first start this month, finished the game with 15 points and nine rebounds.

Here are three observations on a feel-good Warriors win:

The sixteenth lineup is fine in the short term

Coach Steve Kerr continues to tinker with the lineup, sometimes due to injuries, sometimes out of sheer desperation. After Draymond Green, listed as questionable due to left ankle soreness, sat out after pregame warmups, it was tinkering time again.

Golden State opened with its 16th starting lineup of the season: Dennis Schröder and Curry at guard, Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson at forward, with Jackson-Davis at center. It was Anderson’s first start of the season; He was the only player in the rotation who didn’t start at least once.

It worked well in the first half as the Warriors led by as many as 21 points from the start and took a 13-point lead at the break. Jackson-Davis was particularly effective early on, posting six points, six rebounds and two blocks in the first six minutes.

The same lineup opened the second half but was ineffective against the surging Timberwolves. The first-half gains were erased in less than eight minutes as Minnesota’s increased determination led to a 71.4 percent shooting percentage in the third quarter.

The mixed results suggest that there will most likely be a different lineup as early as Monday.

Solid early defense even without Draymond

Although Green was “questionable” on the injury report because of left ankle soreness, Kerr was hopeful — until Draymond’s pregame warmup convinced the Warriors that he should sit.

So much for setting an early defensive tone, right?

Well, no.

The Warriors held Minnesota to one field goal in the first four minutes and ended the first quarter with a 13-5 run to take a 26-15 lead. They held on in the second quarter, going on a 10-0 run in the first four minutes.

The Timberwolves missed 14 consecutive shots and went more than seven minutes without a basket. The Warriors outscored the Timberwolves 16-0 in that span and limited them to 27.3 percent shooting in the first half, including 23.5 percent from long range.

The Warriors played their best defense of the season in the first 24 minutes. The fact that they did this without Draymond has to be encouraging.

Schröder, game 2

Schröder’s Golden State debut was so memorable for him and his new team that it was his second game had be an improvement. It was. Light.

Schröder started again at point guard, allowing Curry to spend more minutes off the ball. Schröder seemed more comfortable than his teammates, whom he had joined five days ago. He was not sharp, but he was more confident in his movements and showed a greater willingness to communicate.

Schröder finished the game with nine points on 3 of 8 shooting from the field, including 0 of 4 from long range, with three assists and two rebounds. He had three turnovers and was minus 9 over 27 minutes.

Schröder is getting closer and closer to better coordination with his teammates. Once that happens, his offensive production should follow.

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