San Francisco – Steph Curry made a spectacular return to the Golden State Warriors on Friday night at Chase Center, scoring a game-high 39 points in 32 minutes. Despite his effort, the Warriors lost 127-120 to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who played without their star guard Anthony Edwards.
Curry had missed the Warriors’ previous five games due to a left quad contusion. In his return, he scored 23 points in the second half, including 14 points in the fourth quarter, showcasing his elite scoring ability. However, the Warriors’ record fell back to .500 at 13-13, and they remain 4-4 in games where Curry scores 30-plus points this season.
New Backcourt Dynamics
Coach Steve Kerr paired Curry with Pat Spencer in the backcourt for the first time this season. Spencer, starting his third consecutive game, impressed early with his shooting and ability to move the ball, contributing to 15 of the Warriors’ first 19 points.
First Half Highlights
By halftime, Curry had 16 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while Spencer recorded nine points, four rebounds, and four assists. Curry praised Spencer’s basketball IQ and ability to handle the offense, comparing him to former Warriors guard Jarrett Jack.
Second Half Struggles
Spencer struggled in the second half, scoring just three points on 1-of-6 shooting and posting a minus-19 rating in under 13 minutes. De’Anthony Melton replaced Spencer as Curry’s backcourt partner for the closing lineup, a combination Kerr plans to use more often at the end of games.
Fourth Quarter Collapse
The Warriors entered the fourth quarter with a three-point lead but fell behind by 12 points following a 17-0 run by the Timberwolves. Golden State managed a furious comeback to lead 117-114 with 1:58 left, but Minnesota responded with an 11-1 run to seal the victory.
Timberwolves players stepped up even without Edwards, with three scorers exceeding 20 points and two more scoring at least 17. Quinten Post led the Warriors after Curry with 16 points. Rudy Gobert dominated the fourth quarter for Minnesota, outscoring all Warriors except Curry combined.
Curry Continues Historic Performance
This game marked Curry’s 94th career game scoring 35 or more points since turning 30, surpassing Michael Jordan for the most all-time. Despite his historic performance, the Warriors have now lost five games in which the opposing team was without its star player, with Curry playing in all five.
Conclusion
Steph Curry’s return brought excitement and scoring for Golden State, but the team fell short in a tough 127-120 loss to the Timberwolves. With Curry back on the court, the Warriors will need better support from their teammates and defensive adjustments to climb above .500 and compete in the Western Conference.
