December 22nd 2024.
The anticipation was high as the Warriors geared up to face the Timberwolves in Minneapolis. Before the game, head coach Steve Kerr was asked about the team's recent struggles and how long it might take for them to get back to their winning ways. To everyone's surprise, Kerr confidently responded that it would only take one game for the Warriors to rediscover their identity.
"We know who we are," Kerr stated. "We know what we're capable of. We just need to find our confidence again, and that can happen overnight. We need to have a good game, feel good about ourselves, and we'll get back on track."
It seemed like the Warriors may have had their breakthrough moment during the game against the Timberwolves. Despite a 25-minute delay due to a net malfunction, the Warriors dominated in the first half and closed out the game with the kind of execution that had been lacking in recent weeks. Led by Stephen Curry's 31 points and two clutch shots in the fourth quarter, the Warriors secured a much-needed 113-103 victory. It was a welcome relief after losing nine out of their last eleven games, including a major defeat in franchise history.
"It felt like a really good night for our team," Kerr said in the postgame interview. "We needed the win, obviously, but I also felt like we got back to who we are."
It was a reminder of the Warriors' true identity - a defensive-minded team with a fast-paced playing style and Curry as their go-to player. It also helped that two of their young players, Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis, had their best games of the season.
The game started off with a bang as the Warriors quickly built a lead with their strong defense. Despite missing Draymond Green due to an ankle injury, the Warriors relied on their defensive skills with their starting lineup. Jackson-Davis, in particular, played an outstanding game on both ends of the court, contributing six points, six rebounds, two blocks, and an assist in just six minutes of play.
"You've got to play hard," Jackson-Davis said. "That's what Coach tells me. Go out there and run the floor, try to make energy plays. That's what I'm trying to do out there."
The Timberwolves, who had been going through similar struggles as the Warriors, were no match for their opponents that night. On the same night the Warriors were trounced by 51 points in Memphis, the Timberwolves suffered a 26-point loss to the Knicks. It was clear that both teams were in desperate need of a win.
"We don't have any identity on offense," Minnesota's star player Anthony Edwards said after their loss. "We know I'm gonna shoot a bunch of shots, we know [Randle] is gonna shoot a bunch of shots, that's all we know."
Edwards was onto something. The Warriors made the Timberwolves look completely lost on offense, with every possession being a struggle. At one point, Kerr and the Warriors' bench were particularly excited about a three-second violation called against the Timberwolves.
The Warriors' strong defensive efforts limited the Timberwolves to just 37 points in the first half, with Edwards and Julius Randle starting a combined 1-for-16. However, things took a turn in the second half as the Timberwolves fought back and evened the score at 84-84 by the end of the third quarter.
But the Warriors weren't ready to give up just yet. In a strategic move, Kerr brought Curry back into the game during the fourth quarter to lead the team to victory. He sat out at the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth, but returned with eight minutes left on the clock.
Upon his return, Curry ran pick-and-rolls with Jackson-Davis, who seemed to have found his finishing touch. The center even managed to dunk on the towering Rudy Gobert twice, as well as adding a layup from a Curry pocket pass. Podziemski also contributed with a tipback, while Edwards answered back for the Timberwolves with two consecutive 3-pointers.
With the game on the line, Kerr made some changes to the lineup by inserting Gary Payton II in for Jonathan Kuminga. The Warriors' Andrew Wiggins, who had been playing an exceptional game on both ends of the court, made a crucial block on Randle in the post. This led to a 3-pointer by Curry, who then went on to hit another one while celebrating at halfcourt. In the final moments, Curry scored 11 consecutive points for the Warriors, sealing the victory with his signature daggers.
These shots seemed to hold more significance for the Warriors, given how tough it had been for them in recent weeks. "Obviously, we needed a win," Curry acknowledged. "We needed a feel-good type of experience after the Memphis game." And that's exactly what they got.
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