Golden State Warriors 119, Minnesota Timberwolves 114: Curry's 44 outlasts the comeback

Stephen Curry scored 44 points, and the Golden State Warriors built enough of a cushion in the first half to survive a second half that belonged to Minnesota. The Warriors won 119-114 at Target Center on Wednesday, their second straight road win after an 0-3 start.

The margin came from the free-throw line and the glass. Golden State made 30 of 37 free throws to Minnesota's 19 of 27, an 11-point edge in a game decided by five. The Warriors also won the rebounding battle 53-42.

How it was won

The game turned early. Golden State took the first quarter 30-23 and the second 34-25, going to halftime up 64-48. The lead peaked at 24, and Minnesota's own largest lead of the night was five.

Then the Minnesota Timberwolves came back. They won the third quarter 33-29 and the fourth 33-26, outscoring Golden State 66-55 after the break. The Warriors entered the fourth up 93-81 and finished with five points to spare.

Curry carried the scoring: 44 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists, with 6 of 16 from three. Yaxel Lendeborg added 26 points and 9 rebounds, going 2 of 5 from deep, and Brandon Williams scored 11.

The shooting split evenly at 44 percent from the field for both sides, with Golden State at 39 of 89 and Minnesota at 40 of 90. The difference was in how the points came. Minnesota made 15 threes on 45 attempts against Golden State's 11 of 35, a 12-point edge from deep. The Warriors made it back inside, winning points in the paint 54-46, and at the line.

Minnesota moved the ball better, with 31 assists to 25, and turned it over less, 15 to 17. Jonathan Kuminga led the Timberwolves with 20 points, 5 assists and 3 of 6 from three. Jaden McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr. each scored 19, though they combined to shoot 2 of 13 from three.

The full line history and box are on the game page.

Against the number

Minnesota closed as a 3.5-point favorite. Golden State covered by winning outright, and anyone holding the Warriors at +130 on the moneyline was paid. The Timberwolves closed at -155.

The total closed at 227.5 and the teams scored 233, so the over came in by 5.5 points. The first half did most of the work with 112 points, and Minnesota's 66 after the break pushed it over.

For the market, this is the second straight game in which the Warriors outperformed their road price. They won by 20 at Denver before this one.

What's next

Golden State, now 2-3, comes home to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, October 30, on Prime Video. The Lakers beat the Warriors 127-105 in the season opener, and the rematch is a fair test of whether the last two results are a correction or a stretch.

The free-throw and rebounding edges travel. The 66 points allowed in a second half, and the run of 32 combined points given up in each of the last two quarters, are what Golden State will need to tighten against Los Angeles.

Minnesota falls to 3-2. Its next game was not listed in the material available at publication.