Curry scores 38 to push Warriors past Timberwolves 116-108

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Steve Kerr long ago ran out of superlatives to describe Stephen Curry.

The Warriors coach isn't even trying anymore, not with the way his All-Star point guard is playing since coming back from a groin injury.

Curry had 38 points, seven rebounds and six assists, and Golden State beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-108 on Monday night in Draymond Green's return to the Warriors' lineup.

Klay Thompson scored 26 points and Kevin Durant had 22 as Golden State prepared for Wednesday's showdown with Toronto by earning its fourth straight win.

Curry went 7 for 14 from 3-point range.

"He's good at basketball," Kerr deadpanned. "Nothing he does surprises me. Even on a night he gets off to a slow start he finds a way."

Curry, who recently returned after sitting out 11 games with an injured groin, got going after missing six of his first nine shots. He made a pair of 3s and scored 14 points in the third quarter, including Golden State's final nine of the period, and then made consecutive shots from deep after the Timberwolves closed to 101-93 in the fourth.

Thompson and Durant provided plenty of support. It's the fourth time this season that the trio has scored 20 or more points in the same game.

Curry is averaging 31.4 points in five games since coming back from the injury.

"We were trying to do a lot in the first half just because we had another playmaker out there," Curry said. "We were playing really, really fast and excited. Just had to settle in and make the simple play. In the second half we kind of slowed down."

Green, the 2017 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, had seven points, 10 rebounds and seven assists after being sidelined for 11 games with a right toe injury. He made his first shot, a 3-pointer, and then playfully challenged the Timberwolves to come guard him.

"I felt like a kid in the candy store the last few days," Green said. "To come back off a layoff like that, I felt pretty good. I really had no issues at all. It's good to get back to who we are."

Karl Anthony-Towns had 31 points and 11 rebounds for Minnesota. Derrick Rose added 21 points.

"It's a great team and to beat a great team you've got to play 48 minutes," Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau said. "We didn't do that."

The Warriors led 12-0 early and got a spark from Green.

After making his 3-pointer, Green had a second bucket on a goaltending call against Gorgui Deng, and then scored on a driving layup. The excitable Green also picked up a foul for setting an illegal screen and jawed at a referee while walking down the court.

Download Our Mobile App Today!