Warriors stumble late, lose OT heartbreaker to Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS — The shorthanded Minnesota Timberwolves erased the Warriors’ 14-point lead in the fourth quarter to force overtime, where they took over and defeated Golden State 119-114 on Wednesday night.

Former Warrior D’Angelo Russell led the charge in the fourth for Minnesota, which was without Karl-Anthony Towns (right calf strain) and Rudy Gobert (right groin soreness).

Russell erupted for 14 of his team-high 29 to help push the game into overtime.

The Timberwolves went on an 8-0 run, powered by Anthony Edwards, pulling ahead 117-112 with 1:07 left. Jordan Poole made a layup to make it a one-possession game. But Stephen Curry’s 3 hit the front of the rim.

On the other end, Naz Reid missed a corner 3 but snatched the rebound and threw down a forceful dagger dunk with mere seconds remaining.

The Warriors are now 1-3 in overtime this season and have now lost nine straight games that have gone to overtime on the road.

Seven of the Warriors’ nine players who entered the game finished with double-figure scoring, with Curry leading the way with 29.

Draymond Green had 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Meanwhile, three Timberwolves starters scored 24 or more points. Edwards had 27 points and six rebounds. Reid finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds.

Golden State entered the fourth with an 11-point lead. But in the end, the Warriors couldn’t get enough stops and turned the ball over too many times. Golden State committed six turnovers in the fourth, including four in the final five minutes of regulation. In total, the Warriors gave the ball up 17 times for 24 Timberwolves points.

The Warriors, winners of four of their last six, are now 26-25 on the season, as the loss dropped them to seventh place in the crowded Western Conference standings.

The Warriors’ three-game road trip ends Thursday against the conference-leading Denver Nuggets. With that being the second night of a back-to-back, Klay Thompson is not expected to be in the lineup. Curry previously said he’d advocate for himself to play.

“I usually campaign to play every game,” Curry said. “That’s the misconception about load management and how it goes.”

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Author: Madeline Kenney

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