MINNEAPOLIS _ The Warriors entered the fourth quarter on Sunday night in Minnesota down 10 and in danger of losing a second straight regular season game for the first time since April 2015.
To begin the quarter, Steve Kerr deployed his third most used lineup this season: Shaun Livingston, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Durant and David West. It's the Warriors' de-facto 'second unit' _ two All-Stars surrounded by three established, savvy veterans. The group typically opens the second and fourth quarters. This season, together, the results have been mixed.
But on Sunday night, it was all positive. Game-altering positive, as that lineup quickly erased the double-digit deficit and carried the Warriors to a 116-108 win over the Timberwolves.
Thompson started the fourth quarter with a layup and a 3, set up by Durant. Then Livingston nailed a turnaround fadeaway out of the mid-post, his offensive specialty. He was fouled on the play and hit the free throw.
Durant soon followed with a 20-foot jumper, the biggest shot of his off-night (6-of-21 from the field). A West block and Iguodala feed led to another Durant layup, giving the Warriors their first fourth quarter lead.
West made another big defensive play moments later, poking the ball away from Ricky Rubio, leaking out and finishing a fastbreak dunk. The Timberwolves called timeout. Then they clanged a jumper. Then Iguodala capped off a 28-6 run with a corner 3.
Kerr still had yet to make a sub. All five of the Warriors on the floor had scored. An 88-78 deficit had turned into a 106-94 lead with five minutes left. The game was essentially over, won by that de facto second unit.
