OAKLAND, California – Draymond Green is playing the best coach Steve Kerr has ever seen, doing all the little things on both ends to spark his team.
Stephen Curry’s shot is on from everywhere, while Kevin Durant is his usual efficient, dominant self.
The two-time defending NBA champions know they can be even better.
Durant had 33 points and 13 rebounds, Curry contributed 28 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-99 on Friday night for their seventh straight win.
“Our fourth-quarter defense was tremendous, everybody flying to the ball. I thought Draymond set the tone,” Kerr said. “I’m not sure if I’ve seen Draymond play better since I’ve been here than what he’s doing right now. His defense has always been fantastic, but he’s taking such good care of the ball. He had a couple turnovers tonight but over the course of the last few weeks, just the decision-making, the poise, the ability to play through adversity, he knows how much we need him. He’s lifting everybody else up. It’s been really fun to watch him play.”
Klay Thompson scored 22 points and hit consecutive 3-pointers 50 seconds apart early in the fourth to put Golden State ahead 91-89 with 10:17 to play. Green then got back-to-back baskets, one helped by goaltending.
Derrick Rose played five minutes in the first quarter for Minnesota and scored three points, then didn’t return because of left ankle soreness – two nights after the 2011 MVP scored a career-high 50 points in a victory against Utah.
Andrew Wiggins led the Timberwolves with 22 points. Minnesota was outrebounded 61-39.
Jimmy Butler scored 21 for Minnesota after sitting out Wednesday to rest. Tyus Jones also returned and had eight points on 3-for-11 shooting after missing the win over the Jazz because of a sore right foot.
Durant made his first six shots, and eight of the initial 11 he took, on the way to 20 points in the first half. Green had seven of his 11 assists by the 4:40 mark of the opening quarter and has 61 assists over the past six games. He also had nine points and nine boards.
“I think it definitely ignites this crowd for sure. It ignites my teammates as well, just give them something to feed off of, an extra boost of energy to feed off of,” Green said of all he does. “That’s my job. That’s what I bring to this team.”
Alfonzo McKinnie added eight points and eight rebounds off the bench in the Warriors’ fifth straight home victory against the T-Wolves.
Minnesota was outscored 33-12 in the fourth.
“We just didn’t hit some shots. It’s a two-way street,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “They played great defense, where we also missed some shots that we were hitting the whole game.”
Both teams shot 50 percent or better in the first quarter.
“Over the course of 48 (minutes) if we stay locked in and focused, there’s going to be a breaking point,” Curry said. (AP)
