SAN FRANCISCO _ It had been seven months, one ACL tear, a superstar departure and broken hand since the Golden State Warriors last won consecutive games.
The Warriors' 113-104 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves Monday night at Chase Center marked the first win streak of the season, as the team's committed pursuit of development is finally showing dividends.
On the heels of Friday's win over the New Orleans Pelicans, the Warriors (7-24) put together their best 48 minutes of basketball this season. A relentless stream of crisp passes, determined rebounds and timely runs overwhelmed the Timberwolves.
Golden State assisted on 26 of their 38 made field goals, muscled its way to a 55-41 advantage on the boards and showed resolve when the Timberwolves (10-19) threatened late.
After hanging 52 points the last time these two teams played, guard D'Angelo Russell set the tone early. He scored eight of the Warriors' first 10 points, and finished with 30 points on 8-for-18 shooting (5-for-11 from 3-point range) and four assists.
A 20-5 run in the middle of the second quarter guided by guard Alec Burks and center Willie Cauley-Stein broke the game open.
The run was reminiscent of the snowball effect the Warriors of old used to conquer the league. Only, instead of Steph Curry (left hand surgery) and Klay Thompson (left knee surgery) splashing and Kevin Durant sniping, it was Cauley-Stein dunking and Burks cutting off a connected offense.
The Warriors extended a 14-point halftime lead to 24 with less than four minutes left in the third quarter, which marked the largest lead they've ever had at Chase Center.
Minnesota outscored Golden State 37-29 in the final frame, but Russell's timely 3-pointer with 6:52 left ended a 7-0 run and extended the Warriors' lead to 92-83. When the Timberwolves cut the Warriors' lead to six with 5:26 left to play, Burks scored back-to-back baskets, found Cauley-Stein for an alley-oop and drained a 3-pointer to put the game away.
In all, the Warriors' starters outscored the Timberwolves' 90-39. Burks finished with 25 points on 8-for-13 shooting and eight assists. Cauley-Stein recorded 12 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and two steals, while guard Damion Lee chipped in 14 points.
Golden State's two wins in the last four days came against sub-.500 teams, but that shouldn't lessen the value of these wins. Not for a team that entered the night with the league's worst record.
The progress the Warriors have made is real. They are healthy, developing chemistry and playing their best basketball of the season as they head into a nationally televised matchup against the Houston Rockets on Christmas.
As the Warriors walked off the court, they were played out by chants of "WARRIORS" from the Chase Center crowd, sort of like old times.
