Towns scores 33, Timberwolves defeat Warriors early

Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves to a 104-101 victory over the Warriors in an intense game with three early ejections.

The Minnesota Timberwolves secured their seventh consecutive victory with a 104-101 win over the Golden State Warriors in an In-Season Tournament showdown that saw early ejections for three players. Karl-Anthony Towns led the charge with 33 points, while Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards also made significant contributions to the win.

The game got off to an intense start, with Golden State's Draymond Green being ejected within the first two minutes after putting Rudy Gobert in a headlock. This altercation also led to the ejection of Klay Thompson and Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, who engaged in a shoving match resulting in Thompson's jersey being ripped.

The Warriors were already without their leading scorer, Stephen Curry, who was sidelined due to right knee soreness. Despite the absence of Curry, the game was closely contested, with the lead changing multiple times in the fourth quarter. However, Towns' clutch 3-pointer with 1:07 remaining ultimately secured the win for the Timberwolves.

With Curry out of the lineup, the Warriors looked to rookies Brandin Podziemski and Dario Saric for offensive production. Podziemski delivered a career-high 23 points off the bench, while Saric added 21 points on 6-of-15 shooting. Chris Paul, who started the game after coming off the bench in the previous nine games, contributed 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists.

The victory for the Timberwolves sets up a challenging matchup against the Phoenix Suns, while the Warriors will look to bounce back when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder in their next game.

Overall, the game was a physical and competitive battle, with both teams showing resilience and determination. Despite the early ejections and Curry's absence, the players on both sides demonstrated their tenacity and skill, making for an exciting and memorable contest.