OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Golden State Warriors spent the better part of Thursday night's 126-113 win toying with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
At various points throughout the night, the Warriors would run out to a double-digit lead, only to allow the Timberwolves to cut into the deficit while they went through the motions for a string of plays. The brief moments of closeness were a mirage for Tom Thibodeau's group.
Playing without Jimmy Butler (sore knee) for the fourth consecutive game, Minnesota's defense got sliced and diced all over the floor. The tone was set early in this one as the Warriors got all kinds of different looks at the rim, rattling off 39 fast break points in the first half, and an NBA season-high 48 for the game.