Curry erupts for 44 points as Warriors hold off Timberwolves

MINNEAPOLIS, October 30 ------ Stephen Curry scored a season-high 44 points, rookie Yaxel Lendeborg had 26 and Golden State Warriors held, for a 119-114 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, who were without injured guard Anthony Edwards.

The Warriors have won two straight after opening 0-3, while Minnesota has dropped two in a row after starting 3-0. Wednesday was the first test for Minnesota to see how its lineup would look without Edwards. The Timberwolves announced Tuesday that Edwards would miss extended time after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Edwards averaged 33.3 points through Minnesota's first four games.

Curry shot 11 of 27, including six 3-pointers, and was 16 of 16 on free throws. He also had eight rebounds and six assists. After trailing by 24, the Timberwolves climbed back in the fourth quarter thanks to Jaden McDaniels and Jonathan Kuminga. Trailing 116-112, Minnesota had multiple chances to make it a one-possession game but McDaniels missed two shots from deep in the final minute.

Kuminga led Minnesota with 20 points against his former team. Kuminga was drafted seventh overall by Golden State in 2021 and was traded to Atlanta midway through last season. He signed as a free agent with Minnesota in September. McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr. each had 19 points. Wolves guard Lamelo Ball struggled from the floor for the second straight game. He finished 3 of 11 from the field and 2 of 8 from 3-point range to finish with just eight points.

Meanwhile, Quentin Grimes scored 23 points, Collin Sexton added a season-high 21 points off the bench, and the Los Angeles Lakers — without Luka Doncic — beat the Los Angeles Clippers, 103-87, for the second time in a week. Doncic sat out with back tightness from the second game of the team’s first back-to-back of the season. Starting forward Ziaire Williams missed the game with a sore left foot. Coach JJ Redick said both moves were precautionary.

Without Doncic's NBA-leading 36-point average, the Lakers (4-1) had six players in double figures. Austin Reaves had 16 points and Matisse Thybulle had 15. Sexton and Thybulle had four 3-pointers each. Rookie Keaton Wagler scored a career-high 21 points off the bench to lead the Clippers (1-3). They dropped their third in a row, having lost to the Lakers by eight points on Friday. They were without starting forward Rui Hachimura (left quad tightness) against his former team.

Earlier, Jalen Brunson had 38 points and seven assists, and the New York Knicks beat the Chicago Bulls, 133-127, for their second straight win. Karl-Anthony Towns had 19 points and 13 rebounds for New York, which beat the Detroit Pistons 111-97 on Tuesday night after dropping its first three games of the season. OG Anunoby scored 23 points, Jordan Clarkson had 18 and Landry Shamet finished with 14.

Towns and Shamet both got banged up in the first half. It looked as if Towns hurt his left wrist in a collision with Bulls forward Noa Essengue, and Shamet twisted his right ankle after a dunk. Both players went to the back before returning to the game. Norman Powell scored 30 points for Chicago on 10-for-15 shooting. Caleb Wilson had 20 points and Matas Buzelis finished with 17, going over 2,000 points for his career.

In Indianapolis, Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points, including two 3-pointers in the final 1 1/2 minutes, to lift the Philadelphia 76ers to a 114-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Joel Embiid had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the 76ers, who rebounded from a dismal start to the second half. Jaylen Brown had 20 points and 10 boards, Anfernee Simons scored 20 points off the bench and LeBron James added 13 points and 10 assists.

Maxey’s second 3-pointer gave the 76ers a 112-106 lead with 46 seconds left. Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton was sidelined with a left hamstring strain. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said he expected Haliburton will be out at least two weeks. Andrew Nembhard returned after missing Monday’s loss at Milwaukee with neck soreness and finished with 18 points and 14 assists. Pascal Siakam, who fouled out with 12 seconds left, led the Pacers with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Aaron Nesmith added 18 points.

Source: mb.com.ph