Stephen Curry scored a season-high 44 points as the Golden State Warriors beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-114 on Wednesday night at Target Center. Curry added 8 rebounds and 6 assists, made 6 three-pointers, shot 11-of-27 from the field and went a perfect 16-of-16 from the free throw line. Nineteen of his points came in the second quarter, and the performance tied LeBron James for the most 40-point games at age 35 or older.
The Warriors have now won two straight after an 0-3 start, and the help came from a rookie. Yaxel Lendeborg scored 26 points with 9 rebounds on 11-of-20 shooting for Golden State, the second eye-catching line of his first week after his 31-point, 12-rebound night in the Warriors' first win. Draymond Green filled the rest of the box score with 3 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks.
This was Minnesota's first test without Anthony Edwards, and it showed in the first half before the Wolves found something late. Edwards had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, announced Tuesday, and could miss up to two months after averaging 33.3 points through Minnesota's first four games. Minnesota has now dropped two straight after a 3-0 start.
Jonathan Kuminga led Minnesota with 20 points against his former team, and Jaden McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr. each had 19. Shannon's 19 off the bench is the first crack at the shots Edwards leaves behind, and Kuminga leading the team in scoring in the first game without Edwards is a role worth watching, not just a revenge-game line. LaMelo Ball struggled again with 8 points on 3-of-11 shooting.
Minnesota trailed by 24, rallied in the fourth, but McDaniels missed twice from deep in the final minute and the comeback stalled at five. Golden State held on, and the Warriors' season looks very different than it did after three losses: two straight wins, a rookie producing in a featured role, and the oldest star in the building still closing games.