Anthony Edwards scored 42 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and added five assists as the Minnesota Timberwolves held off the Golden State Warriors 127-117 at Chase Center on Friday.
Edwards shot 13-of-22 from the field and made all 12 free throws, leading a balanced attack that included Rudy Gobert’s 18 points and nine rebounds.
The Timberwolves snapped a three-game losing streak, which had followed a five-game winning run, in what coach Chris Finch labeled a must-win matchup.
Golden State, dealing with multiple injuries, saw Draymond Green scratched less than an hour before tipoff, with Kristaps Porzingis starting in his place and contributing 20 points in his first start since the trade from Atlanta.
Al Horford exited in the first quarter with right calf tightness, while Seth Curry left in the second half with left inner thigh issues. Stephen Curry, sidelined for his 16th straight game, will miss at least another week.
Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 25 points, but the team’s 40% shooting and 31% from three proved insufficient to overcome Minnesota’s efficiency and depth.
After Porzingis hit a step-back jumper with 9:57 left in the second quarter, the Timberwolves responded with a 17-4 run that widened the lead and set the tone for the rest of the game.
The Warriors briefly cut the gap to 109-102 on a 3-pointer by Gui Santos followed by a Malevy Leons dunk, but Golden State could not sustain a comeback.
Minnesota finished 46-of-82 from the field and 12-of-30 from three, with a strong 23-of-26 performance from the free-throw line helping secure the victory.
The Timberwolves improved to 41-26, moving closer to playoff positioning in the Western Conference, while Golden State fell to 32-34, marking their fourth consecutive loss and sixth defeat in seven games.
Minnesota will conclude its four-game road trip at Oklahoma City on Sunday, while the Warriors begin a six-game road stretch against the New York Knicks.
