© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
OAKLAND – For the first time since their game two loss to the Denver Nuggets, the Warriors looked like they weren’t fully in control of a game. Still, with a triplet of 20-plus point scoring performances from Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, and a masterful fourth-quarter performance, the Warriors went on to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves comfortably, by a score of 116-99.
Here are five takeaways from tonight’s game:
Alfonzo McKinnie, the best offensive rebounder who’s not a center
McKinnie comes into every game like he’s going to out-rebound every other player on the floor. He’s got a vertical leap like he wears a functional pair of Moon Shoes and gets fantastic position on almost every possession.
Today, McKinnie had two offensive rebounds in the first half alone, and nearly had a third on a Steph Curry 3-pointer that rattled around before dropping in. He finished with 9 total rebounds (and 8 points) and continues to provide the Warriors with extra possessions on a nightly basis.
For his position on the wing, McKinnie is the best offensive rebounder in the league. Don’t believe it? Here are the stats:
McKinnie ranks 35th in the league in rebounds per 48 minutes (min. 25 rebounds) at 15.8 rebounds per 48 minutes. That stat ranks second among all forwards – only behind Giannis Antetokounmpo – with at least 25 rebounds. But when it comes to the offensive glass specifically, McKinnie is outrageous.
His offensive rebound percentage (13.6 percent) is 13th in the league and 1st among forwards with at least 25 rebounds. It’s worth noting that Kevon Looney (15.9 percent) ranks 8th in the league. That offensive rebounding percentage by McKinnie is the highest in the league among non-power forwards and centers with at least 25 rebounds.
Tonight, the Warriors out-rebounded the Timberwolves 61 to 39.
T-Wolves spread the love, Warriors did not (until the fourth quarter)
The Minnesota Timberwolves are notorious for their limited lineups. Last year, the Timberwolves often played lineups in which only six or seven players would get more than 5 minutes per game. Head coach Tom Thibodeau appeared to have no faith in his unit.
Yet, tonight, even with Derrick Rose leaving the game early, there were five Timberwolves players who scored in double digits. Rookie guard Josh Okogie led that charge for Minnesota, finishing with 15 points and 5 rebounds.
The Warriors had just three players (Durant, 33 points, Curry, 28 points, Thompson, 22 points) in double-digit scoring tonight. Granted, they all had 20-plus points, but their passing fluidity was not as apparent as it had been in recent games.
That was, until the fourth. The Warriors had just 20 assists by the end of the third quarter, on pace for around 27. But in the fourth, that ball movement, and particularly, execution, came back. They tallied 11 assists in the quarter (31 total) and turned what was a close game into a fairly comfortable win. They scored 33 in the quarter to shut down any hope of a Minnesota comeback.
Third-quarter turnovers are a concern
In recent years, the Warriors have been typified by their third-quarter explosions. They’ve often gone through five-minute stretches in the third during which they essentially end the game. Tonight, and so far this season, that has generally not been the case.
At the end of the third quarter tonight, the Warriors had committed 13 turnovers to the Timberwolves’ 1. They committed six total turnovers in the third quarter alone. The third quarter has been particularly bad for the Warriors in terms of holding onto the ball this season.
Worst of their quarters this season. Warriors are a -7 in thirds, +111 otherwise. https://t.co/suNftQb0jk
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 3, 2018
Very little Derrick Rose, a game after hitting his career-high
If you tuned into tonight’s game to see how Derrick Rose would follow up after his career-high, 50-point performance two nights ago, you may have left tonight’s game disappointed. The former MVP played just five minutes and left the game with left ankle soreness.
Derrick Rose will not return to tonight's game due to left ankle soreness. #Twolves
— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) November 3, 2018
Warriors host LGBTQ night, Kerr encourages voter participation
With less than a week to go before the November 6th midterm elections, the Warriors honored the LGBTQ community. While some people prefer to try and keep their politics and sports separate, head coach Steve Kerr prefers to use his platform as head coach of the NBA’s best team to call attention to issues he cares about.
He’s spoken out multiple times over the last couple of years about President Donald Trump, and tonight, donning a “Vote For Our Lives” shirt, he encouraged people, particularly young people, to head to the polls on Tuesday and vote to bring gun law reform:
Steve Kerr wearing “Vote for our Lives” shirt during today’s pre-game press conference pic.twitter.com/MDt4vpLQUJ
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) November 3, 2018