Denver Showed the Shape of This Team. Minnesota Will Test It
The first win came from Podziemski, Lendeborg and Santos taking over the middle of the game, and Wednesday's opponent is built to take that away.
Golden State won 134-114 in Denver for its first win, with a 40-point third quarter. The next test is a Minnesota team that has allowed 100.5 points per 100 possessions through four games.
How Denver was won
The Warriors led 60-56 at the half and outscored the Nuggets 40-28 in the third quarter, including a 9-0 run that made it 80-65. Lendeborg finished with 31 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. He went 1 of 8 from three and still got there by going to the line 13 times and making 12. Curry was perfect from the field, 8 of 8, for 24 points in 27 minutes. Podziemski's line was quieter, but he was +33 with zero turnovers.
The rotation is getting shorter
Santos, Bassey and Brandon Williams were all cleared on Tuesday. Santos started and scored 13 on 6 shots while finishing +18. His minutes have climbed toward 30 a night. The bench scored 36, but Niang and Payton were a combined -15. Kerr's group in the last five meaningful minutes was Horford, Podziemski, Melton, Santos and Lendeborg. That is a lineup chosen for spacing and decisions, not size.
Wednesday in Minneapolis
The Timberwolves host Golden State on October 28 at 3-1, coming off their first loss. ESPN's preview was framed around Anthony Edwards' 47-point game, and he is scoring 33.3 a night. Rudy Gobert is pulling down 14.3 rebounds. Donte DiVincenzo is out with an Achilles injury. The number that matters is the gap in defensive rating: Minnesota allows 100.5 points per 100 possessions, while the Warriors allow 121.1.
Can Lendeborg's free throws travel?
Against Denver, Lendeborg's shooting from deep didn't matter because he lived at the rim. Gobert makes that harder than anyone. If the rookie can't draw fouls on Wednesday, Golden State needs Curry and Podziemski to supply the efficiency instead. The Lakers come to Chase Center two days later, on October 30.
When do the Warriors play the Timberwolves?
Golden State plays at Minnesota on Wednesday, October 28. The Warriors then host the Lakers on October 30 in an Emirates NBA Cup game.
Who is injured for the Warriors right now?
Kristaps Porzingis and Moses Moody are out with an estimated return of December 1, and Jimmy Butler III is out with an estimated return of January 2. Gui Santos, Charles Bassey and Brandon Williams were cleared on October 27.
