What We Learned As Dubs Use Huge Fourth To Rally Wolves originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SAN FRANCISCO — With five players combined for 20 All-Star Games unavailable, the Minnesota Warriors and Timberwolves met Sunday at Chase Center to determine which team would go where only one could.
That is to say above. 500.
The Warriors pulled off the feat, mustering enough courage to overcome an abysmal start and erase a 10-point deficit in the final eight minutes and hang on to a 109-104 win in front of a cheering crowd (18,064).
The victory put Golden State at 31-30, above .500 for the 11th time this season and keeps alive its hopes of making a late push to a coveted top-six seed in the Western Conference. .
Klay Thompson handled most of the big efforts on offense, scoring a game-high 32 points for a roster without Stephen Curry (nine All-Star games), Draymond Green (four) and Andrew Wiggins (one).
The Timberwolves were without big men Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, who each have three appearances. Naz Reid, third on their list of big men, stepped in to slice Golden State’s defense for 30 points.
Here are three observations from Golden State’s second straight win:
Determination emerges
Golden State’s offense has been inconsistent, and it will happen over the course of a season.
His defense was, most often, missing. This has been an ongoing and much-discussed challenge.
But intensity is the biggest difference between this team and the one that battled its way to a championship last spring.
That night he appeared. It was late, which is why the Warriors spent every last second of the first half and most of the second half trailing.
But the level of courage was at its maximum in the fourth quarter. The execution wasn’t always so pitched – downright appalling in the last minute – but there was no questioning the will to chase victory.
Donte DiVincenzo single-handedly brought enough energy to heat up San Francisco’s half, scoring 10 of his 21 points and playing break-dog defense.
This is how the Warriors have to compete if they want to get where they want to go.
With Curry out of action, Poole’s offense is critical to a smooth Golden State offense. Recent developments have been discouraging, particularly with regard to efficiency and judgment.
Poole finished with 15 points on 5 of 20 shooting from the field, including 1 of 8 from beyond the arc. His four assists were nullified by four turnovers.
But it’s more than just numbers. Poole can’t seem to shake his tendency to throw misguided 30-footers early in the shot clock or even when the Warriors seem to be finding a measure of pace on offense. It’s a matter of judgment, and it’s the #1 priority for anyone filling the point guard role.
In his last three games, Poole’s assist ratio has been less than ideal (16 assists, nine turnovers) and his 15.3 point average has come on 13 of 46 shots, including 5 of 23 at distance.
If those numbers don’t improve, and quickly, Curry may not have much offense to save over the past few weeks.
Kuminga slightly better this time around
With Green out of the lineup for the second straight game, the Warriors again replaced him in the starting lineup with Jonathan Kuminga.
Results were slightly better this time around, as Kuminga posted 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting from the field, including 1-for-1 from deep, along with five rebounds.
It was an improvement from Friday, when Kuminga submitted seven points, four rebounds, four assists and a team-high four turnovers in 24 minutes in a win over the Rockets.
Draymond’s trade-off at Kuminga costs Warriors communication/awareness/defensive activity, rebounds and play. .
RELATED: PBJ Makes Strong Case For More Minutes
If Green is forced to sit on the sidelines for a few more games, the Warriors will need more of their latest high lottery pick.
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