Jack Rallies Warriors Over Timberwolves 100-99
MINNEAPOLIS (CBS/AP) -- Jarrett Jack had 23 points and eight assists to rally the Golden State Warriors to a 100-99 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
David Lee had 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Warriors, who trailed by 16 in the first quarter before Jack jumpstarted the offense off the bench as he has all season. Carl Landry added 19 points and nine rebounds off the bench for Golden State, which has won three in a row following a six-game losing streak.
Derrick Williams had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who had a chance to win it in the final seconds. But Luke Ridnour's mad dash down the court ended with a floater that was off the mark, and the Warriors escaped.
Nikola Pekovic had 21 points and eight rebounds and Ricky Rubio had 16 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and six steals for Minnesota.
The Wolves were up six with six minutes to play, but Jack hit two free throws and a big 3-pointer from the top of the arch for a 96-95 lead, validating the lobbying that coach Mark Jackson has been doing on his behalf for sixth man of the year.
Rubio scored on a drive to the basket and Stephen Curry hit a jumper from the right wing to reclaim the lead. Jack then made the play of the game, tapping a long rebound out to Harrison Barnes for another possession in the final 40 seconds.
Curry finished with 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting to help the Warriors overcome 22 turnovers that led to 32 Timberwolves points and a 62-36 beating on points in the paint.
The Warriors are going to have to continue their climb back from that long skid without center Andrew Bogut for the near future. Jackson said before the game that they're going to be patient with Bogut's back injury and be sure not to rush him back into action. There was no timetable put on Bogut's return and Jackson was resolute that Andris Biedrins, Festus Ezeli and the rest of Golden State's big men were ready to pick up the slack.
They certainly weren't ready for Pekovic at the start of the game.
Minnesota came out rolling, with Rubio throwing between-the-legs passes to Pekovic and Andrei Kirilenko and connecting with Williams on a soaring alley-oop to help the Wolves open up a 16-point lead in the first quarter. The Timberwolves held a stunning 24-0 advantage on points in the paint after the first quarter against a team that hammered them 58-22 in that category the last time they met.
Unable to get any offense going, Jackson went to his super sub Jack, who once again ignited the Warriors. After scoring 30 points and dishing out 10 assists in a thrilling win over San Antonio on Friday night, Jack hit his first five shots — four of them 3-pointers — to help Golden State climb back into the game. The fiery leader drew a flagrant foul for throwing a forearm to Greg Stiemsma's chest, but that only seemed to get his teammates going.
Lee scored the team's first eight points of the second half, the last on a soft jumper to give the Warriors a 60-59 lead.
NOTES: Rubio also had six turnovers. ... Kent Bazemore had 1 point, the only other Warriors sub to score in the game. ... Timberwolves PF Kevin Love, who has played just 18 games this season because of a broken hand, received the Kia Community Assist award before the game for his winter coat drive.
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