Steph Curry Returns to Minnesota, Lifts Warriors in Somber Win Over Wolves
MINNEAPOLIS - Sunday afternoon at Target Center wasn’t your typical NBA gameday. The mood inside the arena, and the city around it, was heavy - shaped by tragedy and tension that extended far beyond the hardwood. The game between the Warriors and Timberwolves had already been pushed back 24 hours following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a federal immigration agent, a moment that shook Minneapolis and raised safety concerns for the Timberwolves organization.
By tip-off, the atmosphere was unmistakably subdued. Outside, thousands of demonstrators braved freezing temperatures to protest.
Inside, a moment of silence was overtaken by chants calling for ICE to leave the city. The energy in the building was muted, the crowd subdued - a stark contrast to what you'd expect from a matchup between two Western Conference contenders.
And yet, amid the emotional weight of the day, Steph Curry did what Steph Curry does: he delivered.
In his first game back in Minnesota since a hamstring injury sidelined him during last spring’s playoff series against the Wolves, Curry reminded everyone just how dangerous he still is. He poured in 26 points, leading the Warriors to a 111-85 win - their first since losing Jimmy Butler for the season to a torn ACL.
“Really, the difference was that Steph was healthy,” Moses Moody said postgame. “Right now we’re just playing hard and figuring everything out. We’re adjusting and it’s different, but stuff usually goes your way when you leave it all out there on the floor.”
Curry may be approaching his 38th birthday, but he’s still rewriting the record books. Sunday's performance moved him past Celtics legend John Havlicek and into a tie with Paul Pierce for 19th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list at 26,397 points.
Next up? Tim Duncan - just 49 points away - another franchise icon who, fittingly, has often drawn comparisons from Warriors coach Steve Kerr when talking about Curry’s impact.
The Warriors leaned heavily on their star, and with good reason. With Butler out and Jonathan Kuminga sidelined with a knee bruise, Golden State was short on wing depth. But they stuck to the formula that’s carried them through countless battles: trust Steph, and let the rest fall into place.
Still, Curry wasn’t ready to draw big-picture conclusions from the lopsided win. He acknowledged that the Timberwolves - a team that’s made back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances - weren’t themselves.
“It’s different without Jimmy,” Curry said. “We’re not going to get lulled into thinking tonight is who they are.”
He’s right. Minnesota, missing its emotional leader and clearly affected by the events surrounding the game, didn’t look like the team that's become a postseason fixture. But for the Warriors, the win was a much-needed step in the right direction - not just in the standings, but in identity.
Even with De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford expected to sit out the second leg of the back-to-back, Golden State left the floor Sunday having reminded themselves - and maybe the rest of the league - of who they are when Steph is in rhythm and the team is locked in.
“We’ve got to understand who they are, and who we’re trying to be,” Curry said.
On a day where so much felt off, Curry’s brilliance was a familiar sight. And for the Warriors, that might be the most important takeaway of all.