Warriors hold off Minnesota Timberwolves

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) right drives towards the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Mike Conley (10) defends during the first quarter of their NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Calif. Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023.Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

2023.02.26 – Klay Thompson scored 32 points, including a key 3-pointer with 2:05 to play, and the Warriors held off the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-104 on Sunday.

The defending NBA champions were down three starters once again, and old stand-by Thompson and newcomer Donte DiVincenzo delivered on both ends when it mattered most.

This matchup of teams fighting neck-and-neck for postseason positioning, meant so much for coach Steve Kerr’s undermanned Warriors — for many reasons.

“This is a huge win not only for the standings but for the confidence of the guys,” Kerr said. “That was a team win. Everybody came in there and competed and played well.”

DiVincenzo put Golden State ahead for good on a 3-pointer with 3:02 left and finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists. He also won a jump ball in the final minute.

Naz Reid scored a career-high 30 points and added nine rebounds for Minnesota, but the Timberwolves have lost three straight and four of five.

Kevon Looney grabbed 17 rebounds and has 13 or more in six consecutive games. He finished with 12 points, and his career-best sixth game in a row with double-digit boards was much-needed for a depleted Warriors team.

2023.02.26 – Warriors vs. Timberwolves (NBA Video highlights)

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) drives towards the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) defends during the first quarter of their NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Calif. Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023.Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

2023.02.26 – Warriors vs. Timberwolves (NBA Video highlights)

Watch this video on YouTube

2023.02.26 – Warriors vs. Timberwolves (NBA Video highlights)

“I think it has a huge impact,” Looney said. “I think last year that was one of our biggest strengths, especially in the playoffs, our rebounding.”

Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s 3-pointer just before the third-quarter buzzer put Minnesota ahead 87-78 going into the final 12 minutes before the Warriors rallied behind Thompson. He overcame a slow start to shine late, following up his 42-point gem Friday night in which he matched a season high with 12 3-pointers.

Thompson missed five of his first six from deep Sunday. But with injured Splash Brother Stephen Curry cheering from the bench, Thompson’s 3 with 6:11 left got Golden State within 96-92 and then he followed it with a baseline jumper under pressure.

“Klay has really stepped on to the leadership front,” Kerr said. “I think he is recognizing he is needed in that role.”

The Warriors were missing Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins again.

DiVincenzo said the team found “heart” down the stretch.

“It’s huge for your confidence,” DiVincenzo said. “So when those big dogs come back we’re clicking in the second unit.”

Green had a setback with his troublesome right knee and is scheduled for additional tests.

“It flared up today, so he will be more thoroughly checked out today by our medical staff,” Kerr said before the game. “So it was sort of unexpected the way he came through treatment yesterday and everything was looking good, and he had to step back today.”

2023.02.26 – Warriors vs. Timberwolves (NBC Sports Post Game)

Golden State Warriors forward Jordan Poole (3) drives towards the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jordan McLaughlin (6) defends during the first quarter of their NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Calif. Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023.Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

2023.02.26 – Warriors vs. Timberwolves (NBC Sports Post Game)

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2023.02.26 – Warriors vs. Timberwolves (NBC Sports Post Game)

Golden State has won 12 straight in the series at home but shot 9 for 24 in the first quarter, 1 of 6 by Jordan Poole. The Warriors were 6 of 20 from deep in the first half but grabbed a 59-57 advantage at the break.

BIG HITTERS

Retired baseball sluggers Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez — a T-Wolves owner — sat together courtside opposite Minnesota’s bench.

LOONEY ON THE GLASS

Looney has 24 games with double-digit rebounds, most for Golden State since Green had 37 in 2015-16. The last Warriors player with 13 or more rebounds in six straight games was Andris Biedrins from Dec. 28, 2008, to Jan. 7, 2009.

2023.02.26 – Warriors vs. Timberwolves (NBC Sports Post Game)

Stephen Curry, middle, watch during the first half of an NBA basketball game between the Golden State Warriors and the Timberwolves in San Francisco, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

2023.02.26 – Warriors vs. Timberwolves (NBC Sports Post Game)

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2023.02.26 – Warriors vs. Timberwolves (NBC Sports Post Game)

“We’ve just come to expect it now. He’s an elite rebounder,” Kerr said.

The last quarter of the NBA’s regular season is a mad sprint for playoff positioning in the West, but for the Warriors, it sometimes looks more like a slog, certainly a struggle. Golden State dug itself into a hole in a happy-hour (4:30 p.m. start) game, dug themselves out with a 15-3 run late in the fourth quarter and hung on.

TIP-INS

Timberwolves: Reid shot 12 for 22 overall and had 18 points in the first quarter on 7-for-9 shooting. … Minnesota C Rudy Gobert is sick. F Taurean Prince is out for personal reasons and G Jaylen Nowell is nursing a left knee injury. … Minnesota had won two straight on the road.

Warriors: Curry, the reigning NBA Finals MVP, missed his eighth straight game with a left leg injury after getting hurt against Dallas on Feb. 4. … Wiggins sat out a fourth consecutive game while dealing with a family matter and Kerr isn’t sure when he might return.