The Warriors played well, but when things got rough in the fourth quarter, the Timberwolves proved that they are a class above Golden State, as the standings reveal.

Golden State forced Anthony Edwards (23 points, eight assists, and six rebounds) to be a playmaker, had five players in double figures, and won the turnover fight, but it was insufficient. After outplaying the Timberwolves for three quarters, the Warriors ran out of options when it counted the most.

In a 114-110 loss, the Warriors (36-34) let up 36 points in the fourth quarter. The game had playoff intensity, and the squad that was in contention for the playoffs fit right in. The result completed Minnesota’s season sweep, maintaining the Warriors’ inability to compete with the league’s top teams.

Despite recent turbulence, the Warriors maintained their status as one of the smoothest sailing teams over the previous month heading into Sunday night’s game.

Since January 30, just two clubs have won more games than the Warriors. Golden State dominated the NBA in rebounding and assists per game throughout that period. They won ten out of twelve at one time. They defeated the Lakers in Los Angeles and outscored the Bucks by 35. They got fit and discovered their identities.

However, following Sunday night’s loss to the Timberwolves, the Warriors remain firmly planted in 10th place and risk missing out on the playoffs entirely.

Golden State’s narrow loss at the Target Center kicks off a five-city, triple time-zone week that includes two more games this week against Eastern Conference playoff candidates in Miami and Orlando.

The Warriors will play four additional games over the following six days. Houston, now a game behind Golden State for the tenth spot, is breathing down their necks. As Chris Paul stated on Friday, no one will feel sorry for them.

Even at their peak, with a fully healthy redesigned rotation centered on Draymond Green at the five, the Warriors have only sporadically appeared to be a legitimate contender. Much has been made of their strangely inverted home-road splits, but the truth is much simpler: they’re presently 17-29 against clubs above.500 on the season. They’re 1-10 against Minnesota, Oklahoma City, and Denver, the West’s top three teams.

After what Steve Kerr described as a “alarming” film session following Golden State’s loss to Indiana, the Warriors played with much greater energy.

Golden State’s defense, which had dipped in March, was on point against the Timberwolves. They trapped star guard Anthony Edwards on mostball screens and perimeter handoffs, disrupting Minnesota’s halfcourt rhythm. During the first quarter alone, the Warriors forced nine turnovers.

The Warriors limited Minnesota to 46 first-half points. Even when Edwards got rolling near the end of the half, Golden State forced him into difficult shots. Naz Reid, whom Steve Kerr called a “Warriors killer” before the game, kept the Timberwolves alive by hitting his first five 3-pointers.

Golden State led by as much as 12 points at halftime and was up eight points.

When the Timberwolves attempted to mount a traditional second-half comeback, the Warriors had answers. Klay Thompson and Chris Paul hit difficult shots following back-to-back 3-pointers late in the third. Still, a three-point advantage into the fourth remained precarious.

The Timberwolves then increased their energy levels. They seemed to know they had another gear to shift into. They appeared to be moving more quickly. Their threes plummeted. Minnesota took its first lead since the early minutes of the game with a 12-5 surge to begin the fourth quarter.

The Warriors fell and could not entirely recover their balance. Kerr used a couple of timeouts to try to stall Minnesota’s momentum. Thompson nailed a pair of 3s, Gary Payton II tipped in a miss and Trayce Jackson-Davis rolled to the hoop for a jam to pull back within three. A second-chance Steph Curry 3 tied the game at 104.

The Warriors remained in lockstep but never gained the lead again. Curry ran down the court, scoring 30 points and bringing the Warriors back within one with 14.9 seconds remaining. But Thompson’s contested 3-pointer rimmed out with six seconds left, sending the Warriors to Miami, their next destination, with a loss.