Stephen Jackson leads Golden State with 25 points, but Warriors
fall 115-108
MINNEAPOLIS
The Minnesota Timberwolves finally figured out how to close a game.
Three days after surrendering a 29-point lead in the final 22 minutes of a loss to Dallas, Al Jefferson had 32 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Timberwolves to a 115-108 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.
Ryan Gomes scored 13 of his 21 points in the third quarter and also had 10 rebounds. Kevin Love added 19 points and eight rebounds for the Wolves, who have won three of five.
Stephen Jackson had 25 points and seven assists, and Andris Biedrins had 18 points and 13 rebounds for the short-handed Warriors.
Golden State was playing without starting forward Brandan Wright, who missed the game with a sprained wrist. The team also hoped to have Corey Maggette back from a hamstring injury, but he missed his 15th straight game.
The Wolves led this one by seven at the start of the fourth and were able to increase the lead with a 10-3 run that Jefferson ended with a layup for a 101-89 lead with 6:21 to play.
Given the Wolves’ struggles at holding leads, this was far from over. They led 70-41 early in the third quarter against Dallas on Tuesday before losing 107-100. In their last game against Golden State, the Wolves led by 10 points in the final 7 minutes, but the Warriors closed with a 27-7 run to win it in overtime.
Jackson’s jumper from just inside the 3-point line cut Minnesota’s lead to seven points with 3:16 to play. But this time Jefferson hit a couple of free throws and Randy Foye hit a big 3-pointer to keep the Warriors at a comfortable distance.
The Warriors have had plenty of struggles of their own. They endured a nine-game losing streak earlier in the year and lost 14 of 16 at one point.
Golden State has beaten Boston, Denver and Portland this year, but has now lost to Oklahoma City and Minnesota in back-to-back games.
They entered the night first in the league in blocks and tied for first in second-chance points, third in points in the paint and fourth in offensive rebounds.
But Minnesota outscored Golden State 52-42 in the paint, 17-16 in second-chance points, 23-5 in transition and held a 17-10 edge on the offensive glass.
Notes:
Exiled Knicks guard, and former Timberwolf, Stephon Marbury attended the game and even sat in on the local television broadcast in the second quarter. Marbury is a cousin of Wolves G Sebastian Telfair. … Warriors coach Don Nelson said Maggette was “rusty” in practice on Thursday and is still feeling some discomfort in his hamstring.
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Story by Jon Krawczynski, AP Sports Writer
