RECAP: Draymond’s 12 Assists, Curry’s 46 Points Lead Warriors Past Minnesota Timberwolves, 129-116

This is a continuation of the halftime recap of the Golden State Warriors at the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Warriors took a 75-63 lead into the second half.

3rd Quarter – Curry Reaches 35 Points But Wolves Make Late Run Again

The Warriors only made one out of their first seven shots, but the Wolves were having issues as well. It was until 4:29 remaining when Draymond Green made this beautiful move and a runner before sparks flew:

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Despite crafty veteran Andre Miller providing some good guess work on Stephen Curry’s three-point attempt, not only did Curry manage to pull off the attempt from beyond the arc, but he also got the shot to drop, which gave him 32 points after a jumper and some free throws:

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Gorgui Dieng then got the ball stolen from Green and that resulted in another three-pointer for Steph, giving the Warriors a 21-point lead, 97-76, with 2:31 to go in the third.

But like the 2nd quarter, Golden State let their foot off the gas pedal and closed out the period on an 11-0 run, with unlikely heroes Nemanja Bjelica getting a dunk, Shabazz Muhammad who had torched the Dubs in the first half an and-one, Dieng a jumper, and Kevin Martin a fadeaway banker with 1.5 seconds remaining.

That put the Wolves back in business as the Warriors held just a 97-87 lead heading into the fourth.

4th Quarter – Wolves’ Bench Puts The Heat On

With Curry on the bench to start the final frame, the Timberwolves’ bench made another push. Martin hit a three, Miller tipped in a layup, Martin got a finger roll, and Dieng got an and-one on Harrison Barnes:

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Minnesota crept back to a 102-97 deficit with 8:31 remaining.

Green checked back in and, after a patented turnaround jumper by Shaun Livingston, drilled a three-pointer to give Golden State a 107-99 lead with 7:21 to go.

Barnes got an and-one, Curry checked back in, but then Harrison missed the free throw. Shortly thereafter, it was #ChefCurry time again as he drained another triple:

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But the Wolves wouldn’t go away, as Andrew Wiggins hit a jumper and Bjelica got a triple, sandwiched around this jumper by Curry over Karl-Anthony Towns:

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It was still a game hanging in the balance even as Barnes deftly deflected a Wiggins jumper, then missed a three, but Green got the putback to put the Warriors on top, 116-108, with 4:29 to play.

Minnesota head coach Sam Mitchell called a timeout for the stretch run.

However, Towns missed a shot and Wiggins the putback tip attempt, and Green recorded his 11th assist on the night as he forced the tempo and found the heretofore quiet Klay Thompson for three more:

Draymond Green must be an All-Star this season. pic.twitter.com/XX4iPndfLG

— Dieter Kurtenbach (@dkurtenbach) November 13, 2015

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Curry would make a couple of mistakes before hammering the nail in the coffin, exchanging badly missed threes with Wiggins, then making a bad pass stolen by Zach LaVine who found Wiggins who found Martin for a breakaway dunk.

But this and-one banker sealed the deal:

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The traditional three-point play gave Curry 43 points on the night and an insurmountable 124-113 lead over the Wolves with just 1:55 left.

LaVine got fouled by Green and, curiously, as Mitchell emptied his bench, even inserting seldom-used former Duke product and rookie Tyus Jones, Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton kept his starters in, with the exception of Andre Iguodala in place of Festus Ezeli.

With 29.9 seconds remaining, Curry added his 8th triple to up his total to 46 points on the night (15-for-23 field, 8-for-13 downtown). The assist went to Green, his 12th to go along with 23 points. Jones lofted a three with 6 seconds left, Green collected the board for his 8th rebound.

Klay had 15 points, while the Wolves were led by Wiggins with 19 and Towns with 17-and-11.

The Warriors (10-0) now sport the franchise’s best start in history and will fly home and face the Brooklyn Nets in two nights on Saturday.

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(Photo: @letsgowarriors Instagram account via @annj8150)