Timberwolves no match for Warriors, Stephen Curry

Golden State’s Stephen Curry scored 21 points in the first quarter to set up another dominant performance personally and by his team as the Warriors won 129-116 at Minnesota on Thursday to make it 10 straight wins to start the season. “Ugly game. Real physical”.

The Warriors kept committing turnovers, allowing the Grizzlies to get back into the game. At one point midway through the first, Curry was outscoring the Wolves 12-10.

Curry, who has broken the league record for 3-pointers made in a season each of the last two years, is on pace to smash it again.

The Warriors have won eight straight in Minneapolis and 12 of the past 13 meetings overall.

All five Warriors’ starters finished in double-figure scoring. When Curry came back in with 6:35 left, he scored 11 points to finish Minnesota off for good.

The Brooklyn Nets recorded an overdue first win of the season as Bojan Bogdanovic scored 22 points off the bench in a 106-98 victory over the Houston Rockets.

After trailing 21 points in the third quarter following back-to-back Curry three-pointers, Minnesota used an 11-0 run to cut it to 97-87 going into the fourth quarter.

The Timberwolves dropped to 0-4 at home on the season as they were unable to best the defending champion Golden State Warriors. They contested shots. They put pressure on Curry. Klay Thompson hit two 3-pointers as the lead was pushed to 17.

Meanwhile, the Wolves have Karl-Anthony Towns, Kevin Garnett and Andrew Wiggins to rely on throughout 48 minutes of the game. In addition to his 28 points, Curry had five rebounds, five assists and five steals. “He can play. He’s had a great camp, he comes in and he works hard every day, works on his weaknesses, goes out there and lays it on the line and competes”.

“Not just by passing the ball, but setting good screens to create that separation to give him room from the guys that are trying to be more physical with him”. But at least there was no questioning their effort, as there was in the first game against Golden State and in several other lopsided losses.

The Wolves struggled to guard Curry all night as most teams do, but Steph Curry is simply an unbelievably fun player to watch.

Although Timberwolves and Grizzlies have performed a few of the most balanced match-ups in the West in recent years, Memphis hold a head-to-head 4-3 advantage dating back to the 2013-14 season.

“That’s the way it goes in this league”, Knicks coach Derek Fisher said.

When Miami traded Mario Chalmers earlier this week, Heat President Pat Riley decided it was time for a chat with reserve guard Tyler Johnson.

Golden State put on a basketball clinic in the first half. G Jordan Adams (knee) and F Brandan Wright (knee) also were out.

“But we’re not afraid”, Ricky Rubio said.