Warriors Come Up Short Against Timberwolves in OT

The Golden State Warriors fell 119-114 in overtime to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on Wednesday night.

The Warriors led by as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter, but six turnovers in the final frame, combined with poor shooting propelled a Timberwolves comeback. A 18-4 Wolves run gave Minnesota their first lead of the second half with 5:33 remaining in the game. The two teams traded the lead, culminating with a Stephen Curry lay-up with 1:39 left to tie the game at 110-110. The final 99 seconds of the game resulted in zero points, as Golden State and Minnesota missed the combined final six shots of regular to force the extra period.

D'Angelo Russell, who scored 14 points in the fourth quarter and a team-high 29 points for the Timberwolves, fouled out 38 seconds into overtime after two quick fouls. Without Russell, Anthony Edwards and Naz Reid carried the Wolves offense, attempting nine of the team's 11 field goals in overtime. Edwards scored back-to-back baskets in the final two minutes of overtime to give Minnesota a five-point lead.

A Naz Reid goaltending call on a Jordan Poole lay-up cut the Dubs deficit to three points with 1:02 remaining in overtime. Golden State forced an Edwards miss on the next possession and the Dubs went for a 2-for-1, resulting in a Stephen Curry 3-point attempt with 35 seconds left. Curry's shot came up short, but Golden State had a chance to make one defensive stop and keep the score within one possession. It seemed as the Warriors did that, with Naz Reid missing a corner 3-pointer, but Reid's shot hit off the back iron and he was able to secure the rebound and throw down a reverse dunk to close the contest.

The Dubs offense was rolling in the first half on Wednesday. Four players scored in double figures, with Stephen Curry scoring a team-high 21 points in the first half. The Dubs were shooting 52.4 percent from the field (22-for-42) and 50 percent from 3-point range (9-for-18). They were also aggressive getting to the rim, resulting in a season-high-tying 20 first half free throws. The Dubs scored 71 points in the half and held a nine-point advantage.

But the team went cold in the second half and overtime, making just 2-of-17 3-point attempts. The team's final 3-point make came with 2:14 left in the third quarter, missing their final 12 shots from distance over the game's last 17 minutes.

"I thought we had control of the game and then I thought we kind of just gift-wrapped it," Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr said. "And not to take anything away from Minnesota, I thought they were great. They took advantage of our mistakes and our lack of execution."

Stephen Curry had the hot hand in the first frame, scoring 13 points in the opening quarter. Curry hit three triples in a three minute span; scoring in transition, on a broken play and in the half-court set. Curry finished the game with 29 points and 10 rebounds, his third straight game recording a double-double.

Kevon Looney, coming off the bench for the fourth time in five games, made his impact felt when on the floor. Looney recorded 10 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes of action to go along with two steals and two blocks, including his pivotal rejection against Jaden McDaniels in the fourth quarter.

Looney also finished a team-high plus-12 differential.

Draymond Green recorded his eighth double-double of the season on Wednesday, recording 10 points and 12 rebounds. Green shot 5-for-10 from the field and tallied the team's lone assist in overtime.

The Warriors complete their back-to-back set on Thursday night against the Denver Nuggets (6 p.m., NBCSBA), before coming back to Chase Center for two games. The Dubs will host the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, Feb. 4 (5:30 p.m., ESPN) as the team celebrates Black History Month, then will face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, Feb. 6 (7 p.m., NBCSBA).

More Notables: