The Golden State Warriors put on an absolute clinic in their second of two games in China against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The win means the Warriors leave China with a record of 1-1 against the Timberwolves, and an overall preseason record of 1-2.
The Golden State Warriors notched their first win of the 2017/18 preseason with a dominant win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Shanghai, China. Stephen Curry led the way for the Warriors with 40 points in three quarters, with Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant adding 28 and 22 apiece. The Warriors reminded us just how good they are, with a jaw-dropping 48 minutes of action. Both teams put on an epic show for the Shanghai crowd, as the NBA China Games series wound down.
First Half
While the Warriors ultimately dominated the match, it was looking scary early on. The Timberwolves came out hot in the first quarter, finishing with a lead of 44-36. The Dubs struggled against the Wolves’ barrage of shooting, and at one point found themselves down double digits. The Wolves’ stars took control of the game early, as the Warriors found themselves in a precarious position.
The Wolves’ early dominance may have been a blessing in disguise for the Warriors. The early hole the Warriors found themselves in prompted Coach Steve Kerr to leave the starters in for much of the second quarter. The Dubs caught fire in the second with a seemingly endless string of three-pointers. The team’s sharpshooters – Curry, Durant and Thompson led the comeback effort, along with Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala. Curry’s defensive pressure led to a number of steals and fastbreak points which shifted the tide of the game. JaVale McGee injected his usual energy into the game, and Zaza Pachulia and David West were as solid as ever. The Warriors scored 40 points in the second quarter to finish the half leading 76-72.
Second Half
After playing most of the first half, the starters came back out for the third and took the game by the horns. The scoring onslaught continued as the Dubs created a highlight reel with some unbelievable sequences. No matter how much I watch this team, I still can’t believe some of the things I see them do on that court. The starters played a good chunk of the third quarter and it became clear that the extra minutes may have been intended since the outset. As the Warriors ran away with the lead in the third quarter, they looked to be in mid-season form. The Warriors once again with a huge scoring quarter finished the third with a lead of 114-95.
The fourth quarter saw the Warriors play out the game with the bench mob. The fourth quarter, as expected, allowed the more inexperienced players to get some court time. Rookie Jordan Bell and new signing Omri Casspi shone in garbage time for the squad. Bell finished with 11 points, as well as two steals and one block on the defensive end. Casspi added 4 points, rebound and assists. Casspi provided veteran presence on the floor, but Bell was the star of the show in the fourth. He enthralled the Shanghai crowd with some monster dunks, as well as lockdown defensive plays. There was no slowing down for the Warriors as they closed out the game 142-110.
Takeaways from the game
The Warriors undoubtedly played their best game of the preseason so far. The stars played as dominantly as ever, and it was a real treat. Stephen Curry takes player of the game honors with 40 points, eight assists and six rebounds. As a team, the Dubs shot the lights out, going 20-33 from beyond the arc. The Warriors weren’t without their flaws, however, with another high-turnover game from the team. Despite this, if the Warriors play like they did today throughout the season, there’s no stopping them.
I focused a lot on the players this game and it’s easy to see what makes this team so successful. The starters are insanely talented, that goes without saying. But, when Andre Iguodala comes on the floor, he re-energizes the team. JaVale McGee comes on in short bursts but is so impactful. And when he isn’t on the floor, he’s the ultimate hype man on the bench. Omri Casspi will definitely bring the goods with his veteran influence, and Jordan Bell may be everyone’s new favorite Warrior. It’s easy to overlook the contributions of specific players, but games like this truly outline them.
What did you think of the Golden State Warriors’ dominant showing against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Shanghai? Comment below!