MINNEAPOLIS — The Warriors have had double-digit leads in the fourth quarter during three of their last five games. However, their success rate in these situations is far from perfect.
In a recent matchup against the Timberwolves, Golden State built a 24-point lead early in the second half and managed to stay ahead by 11 with just over two minutes left, ultimately winning 119-114.
But for Steve Kerr, the head coach, there’s a silver lining.
“We didn’t finish as well as we should have, but … I actually liked the experience,” Kerr mentioned. “It’s a chance for us to learn.”
The Warriors also had a 106-94 lead with 3:41 remaining in a game against the Grizzlies last Friday. That time, their offense faltered and Memphis went on a 17-0 run to snatch a victory.
In a way, it seems they’re making some headway, right?
That loss against the Grizzlies left them at 0-3, marking their worst start since the 2007-08 season. They were on the verge of returning home 2-4 after a rough road trip, watching Minnesota chip away at their sizable lead.
“There’s a bit of relief,” Steph Curry said after improving to 2-3, acknowledging their rocky beginning. “However, we know we can perform better, especially after the second half against Memphis and tonight’s fourth quarter.”
Absent Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves couldn’t quite pull off a surprising comeback like Memphis did, but they put enough pressure on the Warriors to signal some concerns in the locker room.
Their closest moment came after a messy offensive possession from Golden State, where Curry missed a three-pointer, allowing Ayo Dosunmu to hit one for the Timberwolves and trim the Warriors’ lead to 116-112 with 45 seconds remaining.
This shift began much earlier in the game.
During the third quarter, Curry shot two of his 16 free throws, putting the Warriors up by 73-50 within the first three minutes. But then, mistakes happened—Draymond Green committed a turnover, Yaxel Lendeborg got stripped twice in quick succession, and Curry stepped out of bounds.
These four turnovers occurred in just over two minutes of play. After TJ Shannon converted the last turnover into three points, Kerr had seen enough as the score tightened to 73-53.
“We sensed they were vulnerable,” Kerr described. “But instead of sticking to solid plays, we tried to make spectacular ones.”
Yet, they never stretched the lead to 30 points. Minnesota ended up scoring 64 of the last 110 points.
“We let them back in the game when we had that 73-50 lead with all those turnovers. It shifted everything right there,” Kerr reflected. “That’s when it got out of control.”
Historically, chaos has benefitted the Warriors, but that’s not the game plan now. The pace changed, favoring the younger and more agile Timberwolves.
This situation contrasted with the Memphis game when offensive rebounds plagued the Warriors and they struggled to score, despite having good shot opportunities.
This time, the Warriors allowed the Timberwolves to dictate the play style. It didn’t help that Minnesota knocked down ten three-pointers in the second half, while Golden State managed only one.
“I think part of it is about getting organized offensively and using the other team’s urgency to our advantage,” Curry said. “We tend to end up playing defensively, relying too much on hoping our shots go in.”
There are two perspectives here: the Warriors are the most veteran team in the NBA, which should give them the edge in closing games. Yet, they’re also adjusting their offensive strategies and navigating new player roles. After all, how Game 82 looks should differ from Game 5.
“We know we gave the game away against Memphis,” Curry acknowledged. “Tonight felt more stressful than it needed to be. There’s still much to improve on. Learning lessons during wins is valuable. A 2-1 road trip is a step in the right direction.”
