On January 16, the NBA regular season witnessed a pivotal battle as the Warriors defeated the Timberwolves for the third time, securing a crucial positioning battle in 10th place! With only two victories separating the 6th to 12th positions, the competition for the play-in tournament is extremely fierce, making it challenging for the Suns and Warriors to break through. The Western Conference landscape has changed once again! Let's take a look at the summary of this game and the Western Conference standings!
The Warriors' triple-killing of the Timberwolves was a key battle for the 10th position. Throughout the game, the Warriors started strong with consecutive three-pointers, leading 13-2. Diving into the paint, DiVincenzo scored to stop the bleeding. Under Curry's leadership, the Warriors continued their relentless attack, expanding their lead to over 20 points. The Timberwolves struggled offensively, scoring only 12 points in the quarter, while the Warriors won by 22 points! The Warriors led by 22 points at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Hua Zi hit two three-pointers to halt the Warriors' momentum. Wiggins attacked the paint, and the Timberwolves tried to close the gap from both inside and outside. Hiller and DiVincenzo hit more three-pointers, and in the latter half of the quarter, the Timberwolves narrowed the gap to 10 points. Moody's three-pointer stabilized the situation for the Warriors. At halftime, the Warriors led by 13 points.
After the break, both teams attacked the paint. DiVincenzo then erupted with consecutive three-pointers, bringing the Timberwolves within 7 points. Curry responded with a three-pointer, and the two teams fought fiercely around a 10-point margin. At the end of the third quarter, Randle's putback gave the Warriors a 9-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. Hiller and Randle hit three-pointers, and the Timberwolves continued to chip away at the score. Both teams engaged in a tough battle, and in the decisive moments, Curry's critical three-pointer extended the lead, followed by Wiggins' two free throws to seal the victory. The Timberwolves had no choice but to surrender. Five Warriors scored in double figures, with Curry contributing 29 points and 8 assists, and Wiggins adding 24 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. For the Timberwolves, five players also scored in double figures, including Hua Zi with 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists, and DiEnCenzo with 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists!
As we enter the latter half of January, the Warriors will face significant challenges in their schedule. Besides the Wizards and Jazz, they will face teams like the Lakers, Thunder, and Boston, which are generally not very strong, and there are also two back-to-back games. Can the Warriors maintain their top 10 position or even further improve their record to reach the top 6? We look forward to their outstanding performance!