The Golden State Warriors faced a night of adversity and adaptation on March 13, 2026, as they squared off against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Chase Center. Missing three of their regular starters—Stephen Curry (knee), Draymond Green (back), and Moses Moody (wrist)—the Warriors were forced to cobble together their 33rd different starting lineup of the season. Just thirty minutes before tip-off, Green was ruled out, joining Curry and Moody on the sidelines and leaving the Warriors' rotation paper-thin against a formidable Timberwolves squad.
On the other side, the Timberwolves arrived with their full rotation ready to go. Anthony Edwards (knee) and Ayo Dosunmu (thumb), both listed as questionable earlier in the day, suited up, giving Minnesota a crucial edge in depth and continuity. Every Minnesota rotation player was active, and their imposing frontcourt—Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, and Naz Reid—loomed as a significant challenge for the depleted Warriors.
The Warriors' starting five featured Brandin Podziemski, De'Anthony Melton, Gui Santos, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis. Melton (adductor) and Quinten Post (foot), both previously questionable, were cleared to play, but the team’s depth was still stretched to the limit. The forward positions, in particular, became a patchwork effort. Santos, more naturally a power forward, was pressed into small forward duties, while Horford, typically a center, was forced to log heavy minutes alongside either Porzingis or Post. The Warriors had rarely played lineups featuring two of Horford, Porzingis, and Post before, but the night’s circumstances demanded experimentation.
From the opening tip, the Timberwolves exploited their size advantage. With McDaniels and Randle both standing at 6'9" and Gobert towering at 7'1", Minnesota dominated the paint and set the tone on both ends of the floor. Yet the Warriors, despite their makeshift lineup, showed flashes of resilience—especially from their young guard, Brandin Podziemski. The rookie led Golden State with a team-high 25 points, attacking the rim fearlessly and keeping the home crowd engaged.
Still, the night belonged to Anthony Edwards. The Timberwolves' star guard erupted for a game-high 42 points, slicing through the Warriors' defense and delivering a scoring clinic. With Minnesota shooting efficiently from the field, the Warriors found themselves fighting an uphill battle nearly all night. As the game wore on, Golden State simply couldn’t keep pace with the Timberwolves’ firepower.
The Warriors’ injury woes didn’t end with their pregame absences. During the contest, Al Horford (calf), Seth Curry (adductor), and Quinten Post (ankle) each exited with injuries of their own. The severity of these setbacks wasn’t immediately clear, but the mounting toll was undeniable. “Can we all just collectively say this is getting ridiculous?” one local columnist wrote, capturing the exasperation felt by the team and its fans alike.
By the final buzzer, the Warriors had fallen 127-117, marking their fourth straight loss and dropping their record to 32-34. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, improved to 41-26, solidifying their playoff positioning in the Western Conference. But for Golden State, the loss was only part of a larger story—a story of perseverance through adversity, and a roster pushed to its absolute limits.
Kristaps Porzingis was one of the few bright spots for the Warriors. The versatile big man poured in 20 points on 7-of-16 shooting in just 20 minutes of action, showing flashes of the form that made him a prized offseason acquisition. “It’s clear he’s feeling as good as he has as a Warrior,” wrote a Bay Area beat reporter. With Porzingis’ Bird rights in hand, the Warriors have the option to re-sign him to a contract of any size this summer, provided his health holds up. The hope is that he’ll play enough down the stretch to warrant a new one-year deal, but as always, his injury history casts a shadow over any long-term plans.
Amid the chaos, Malevy Leons stepped into the spotlight. The 6'9" forward, on a two-year, two-way contract, was pressed into center minutes during the second half—and he delivered. Leons finished with six points, two rebounds, one assist, and one steal in just eight minutes, posting a team-high plus-five rating. His highlight-reel dunk in transition brought a rare jolt of energy to the Chase Center crowd. “His biggest strength is his feel for the game, and that might be the hardest trait to teach,” noted a Warriors analyst. If Leons can continue to develop his shooting and physique, he could be a fixture in the rotation by next season.
The Warriors’ depth chart, already thin, now faces an even more daunting challenge. If Horford, Seth Curry, and Post are unable to return for Sunday’s matchup against the New York Knicks, Golden State will be down seven of its 14 players on standard contracts. The timing couldn’t be worse, as the team embarks on a grueling six-games-in-nine-nights road trip. The coaching staff will need to dig deep into their playbook—and their bench—to keep the team afloat during this critical stretch.
For Minnesota, the victory was a testament to their balance and resilience. With Edwards leading the way, and a healthy supporting cast behind him, the Timberwolves look poised to make noise in the postseason. Their size, athleticism, and depth were simply too much for an injury-ravaged Warriors squad to overcome.
As the dust settles, the Warriors are left to regroup and heal. The upcoming road trip will test their resolve and their roster depth like never before. For now, Golden State’s playoff hopes remain alive, but the margin for error is shrinking fast. With key players sidelined and a brutal schedule ahead, the Warriors’ season hangs in the balance—one game, and one healthy body, at a time.