What we learned as Steph was that the Wiggs Warriors’ comeback win was originally broadcast on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX score

Another night, another “clutch game” for the Warriors – and this one went according to plan.

Golden State led most of the way and never trailed on Wednesday night, managing to fend off a late surge from the Minnesota Timberwolves and power their way out of Target Center with a 116-115 victory, capping a 2-2 road trip and brought her record back to .500 (20-20).

Five Warriors scored in double figures, led by Stephen Curry with 31 points, including two free throws, with 6.1 seconds left to secure the win. Andrew Wiggins scored 24 points, including 18 in the second half. Buddy Hield scored 18 points off the bench, Dennis Schröder added 12 and Moses Moody 11.

Golden State shot 50 percent from distance and limited its painful turnovers while outscoring the bigger Timberwolves 45-41. Trayce Jackson-Davis scored 15 goals – including eight on offense, the best of his career.

Here are three observations from a conclusion that allowed the Warriors to enjoy their return trip to the Bay Area:

The courage in the fourth quarter was enough

The Warriors took a nine-point lead (87-78) in the fourth quarter, which was their danger zone all season. They made it 11 (92-81) with 10:53 to play.

Were they able to hold out?

Golden State’s lead decreased to six with 9:28 left and to three with 8:50 left when Jaden McDaniels scored a triple off an offensive rebound. The teams mostly took turns scoring until the Timberwolves made it 108-108 after two free throws from Naz Redd with 1:07 left.

Curry answered with a 3-ball with 47 seconds left, giving the Warriors the lead and forcing a Timberwolves timeout.

Wiggins was great in the final minute, knocking down two free throws with 32.2 seconds left and grabbing two rebounds in the final 18.1 seconds – the last of which led directly to Curry’s game-winning free throws.

The Warriors were down 37-29 in the final quarter, but behind Curry (eight points), Hield (eight) and Wiggins (seven) were able to record their 12th win in 25 decisive games.

Instant lightning strike

One of the problems the Warriors have noticed over the last two months is their tendency to fall behind early and have to spend the next three quarters playing catch-up.

They may not have solved it forever, but in this game they found the right answer. In a stunning display of dominance, the Warriors built leads of 13-0 and 26-5 before ending the first quarter with a 34-12 lead.

Golden State shot 56.5 percent from the field, including 61.5 percent from deep. Curry scored 12 points on four 3-pointers without a miss and Jackson-Davis grabbed six rebounds in less than eight minutes.

The quarter was the result of determined, opportunistic activity, conceding zero points from turnovers – while scoring 12 points from Minnesota’s gifts -, recording 11 assists on 13 field goals, posting a 16-8 rebound advantage and putting the Timberwolves up a shot rate of 25 percent saved from the field.

Such great starts may not be the norm, but the Warriors have seen what is possible against a good defense when they play and execute with conviction from the jump.

Santos gets his first career start

Starting power forward Draymond Green was sidelined due to illness. Backup power forward Jonathan Kuminga was sidelined with a right ankle sprain. Third-string power forward Kyle Anderson was sidelined with left hamstring soreness.

This blackout against one of the NBA’s bigger teams got Warriors coach Steve Kerr in trouble. Who would he turn to?

Gui Santos, the 6-foot-1, 220-pound combo forward who was inactive or off the roster for most of the 2024-25 NBA season before coming off the bench in the final five games.

Santos faced the daunting task of defending the 6-foot, 220-pound Julius Randle, a three-time NBA All-Star. The 22-year-old Brazilian was not embarrassed as Randle scored 17 points on 8 of 18 shooting, but Santos committed four fouls in 21 minutes.

Santos finished the game with five points, seven rebounds, three assists and was plus-three points for the night.

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