MINNEAPOLIS — Golden State Warriors stretched their franchise-record winning streak to 13 games on Monday in a 102-86 defeat of the injury-depleted Minnesota Timberwolves.
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson each scored 21 points as the Warriors added another mark to their historic stretch with their eight consecutive road victory.
Minnesota, still without injured starters Kevin Martin, Nikola Pekovic and Ricky Rubio, didn’t have the firepower to overcome the NBA-leading Warriors (18-2). Shaky shooting and turnovers hounded both teams in the first half, but Golden State still gradually put the Timberwolves away in the final two quarters.
Rookie Andrew Wiggins’ 21 points, the second-highest scoring output of his career, wasn’t enough to help Minnesota avoid its sixth straight loss, ninth in the last 10 games.
The Timberwolves (4-16) opened the game scoring only twice on their first 14 shots, but Golden State didn’t take full advantage early on. Curry paced the Warriors with eight first quarter points. Minnesota, getting a boost off the bench from Shabazz Muhammad, managed to keep pace. Golden State led 25-20 after the opening quarter.
Despite Minnesota’s 11 turnovers and a 35.6 shooting percentage first half, the Warriors couldn’t break the game open as they battled with inconsistencies of their own. The Timberwolves drew within three points with less five minutes to go in the second quarter before Golden State went on an 11-3 run to eventually take a 48-39 lead into halftime.
Thaddeus Young scored seven straight points to bring Minnesota within six midway through the third quarter. That was as close as the Timberwolves would get, however. Golden State ripped off 13 unanswered points and led by as many as 22 in the fourth quarter.
Timberwolves second-year center Gorgui Dieng brought in a game-high 11 rebounds, with six coming in the first six minutes of the first quarter.
Playing on a sore ankle, Muhammad scored 14 points after recording 20 in each of his last two games.
Golden State has won 15 of its last 18 meetings with the Timberwolves, including six straight.
Andrew Bogut started at center for the Warriors, but he was pulled three minutes into the game and did not return due to irritation in his right knee. Festus Ezeli, who subbed in for Bogut, went on to post seven points and eight rebounds.
NOTES: Timberwolves G Mo Williams sat out his third consecutive game due to back spasms. … Minnesota SF Shabazz Muhammad, hindered lately by a sore right ankle, was scheduled to undergo an MRI exam Monday, but he remained in the Timberwolves’ lineup against the Warriors. … Golden State C David Lee is nearing a return from a lingering hamstring injury, but he remained sidelined for his 19th game this season. … Warriors F Draymond Green, who took Lee’s spot in the starting lineup, entered Monday with his scoring average up to 13.5 points after dropping a career-high 31 points Saturday at Chicago.