OAKLAND, Calif. (NBA.com exclusive)  --  The Golden State Warriors shook off their latest round of dysfunction to play their best basketball game of the season.

Just in the nick of time.

The Warriors got 31 points from Kelenna Azubuike, 23 and seven rebounds from Anthony Randolph and a career-high 15 assists from Stephen Jackson to run away from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 146-105 decision at Oracle Arena Monday night.

As uninspired as the Warriors played in a loss in Sacramento on Sunday, that's how poorly the Timberwolves performed Monday, relinquishing a procession of easy baskets from start to finish that had to make Wolves assistant Bill Laimbeer, a noted bad boy, pine for the likes of Rick Mahorn.

Even as the Warriors waltzed to the rim time after time, the Wolves never once attempted to intimidate them. Azubuike hung from the rim and got called for a technical. Randolph performed rim-aided gymnastics and Minnesota never said "boo." Even journeyman center Mikki Moore had the occasional celebratory flex -- and at 225 pounds (with gold bricks in his pockets) he weighs less than many guards.

Consider this: In the first quarter, Golden State had 14 field goals. Ten were either layups or dunks. Two were 3-pointers.

In the second quarter, the Warriors had 16 baskets. Ten of those were either layups or dunks. And two were 3-pointers.

Pretty good explanation for why the Warriors (2-4) scored more points in the first half -- 74 -- than they have since April 8, 2008, when they scored 77 against Sacramento.

"Obviously I was disappointed because we lacked the fight," Wolves coach Kurt Rambis said, "a lack of effort."

The Wolves fell to 1-7 as they desperately await the return of Kevin Love -- not that he would have helped on this night.

The Wolves turned over the ball 28 times, giving up 47 points on turnovers and 42 in the fast break. Golden State had 22 steals, three shy of their franchise record. The game was so out of hand, with Golden State scoring the most points in the NBA this season, that Nelson allowed Randolph to play point-forward for the final four minutes of the game.

"Our two wins game against teams that were struggling. I wouldn't make too much out of it. But we did play well," Nelson said.

The victory came at precisely the right time to at least temporarily relieve some of the mounting pressure that had enveloped an underachieving team ensconced in controversy.

This was supposed to be the time that the Warriors built confidence along with their win total, four of their first six games coming against teams with losing records, including the lowly Memphis Grizzlies and the Kings without Kevin Martin.

Instead, the Warriors are mired in disarray, Nelson's job suddenly being called into question in the wake of Golden State's lackadaisical defensive effort in the loss to the Kings.

Before Monday's game, Nelson, 23 victories from becoming the NBA's all-time winningest coach, was asked if he thought he was the right man for this job.

"I think so. What do you think?" Nelson asked.

That came a short time after Stephen Jackson's agent blasted Nelson as being a bad coach whom nobody trusts, a not-so-veiled attempt to pressure the Warriors to trade the disgruntled forward, as Jackson has been asking for several months.

"I don't have any comment about that," Nelson responded. "You guys know what that's all about. I don't have any comment on it."

After the victory, Jackson did not endorse what his agent said. But he did not dissuade him from it either.

"That was all on my agent," Jackson said. "I can't take no blame for that. He was upset with some things and he spoke his mind; we work good together because we both speak our minds. But I would never bash Coach in the paper like that. I never have."

Dirty gamesmanship or not, the situation only serves to escalate an already ugly situation that has even players from other teams shaking their heads and asking, "What is going on out here?"

Monday's win may be a much-needed respite for Golden State, but there is no guarantee it will last.

In the midst of their self-induced tumult, the Warriors head out on a five-game road trip that takes them through Indiana, New York, Milwaukee, Cleveland and Boston.

And they do so without centers Andris Biedrins and Ronny Turiaf, neither of whom will accompany the team on its Eastern swing. Biedrins on Sunday aggravated a back injury he that he suffered last week against Memphis and is out for the foreseeable future. Turiaf continues to nurse a sprained left knee.

"We needed this win bad going into this road trip," Monta Ellis said.