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OAKLAND — Between the Warriors’ lineup introductions and tipoff, the moment usually calls for Warriors guard Stephen Curry to provide an inspiring speech.

This time, Curry did not provide a joke, bring up a slight or suggest a strategy that might get his teammates revved up. Instead, Curry mentioned something that he hopes could become a season-long trend. “Let’s not have shootarounds ever again!!” Curry yelled.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr had canceled the team’s customary shootaround on Thursday “to keep things a little fresher and change things every once in a while.” So even if he stressed the decision was “nothing major,” the Warriors hope that played a major factor in the team’s 126-113 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday at Oracle Arena.

“Hopefully we have no more shootarounds this year,” Warriors forward Kevin Durant said.

The Warriors might be disappointed. The Warriors (39-10) will not have morning shootaround before Saturday’s game against the Boston Celtics (35-14) because they never do on a weekend game. But as far as for the rest of the season? Kerr’s body language and words suggested no.

“I’m going to remind them that we go over defense at shootarounds,” Kerr said. To subscribe to the Planet Dubs podcast, click here.

The Warriors did not go over much defensively against the Minnesota Timberwolves (31-20). Though Minnesota played without star forward Jimmy Butler with a right knee injury, the Timberwolves featured six players players in double figures, including Karl-Anthony Towns (31 points), Jamal Crawford (21), Jeff Teague (17), Taj Gibson (12), Nemanja Bjelica (11) and Andrew Wiggins (10) posting double figures. Though the Warriors led by as many as 16 points, Minnesota slashed the Warriors’ cushion to a 117-111 edge with 4:28 remaining. And on a week Kerr has stressed about winning the possession battle, Minnesota had more field-goal attempts (101) than the Warriors (89).

To which Curry retorted, “I heard [Steve] mentioned something about our defense. But offensively we were solid.”

The Warriors sure were. They displayed their embarrassment of riches by posting a season-high 21-of-37 mark from 3-point range. And everyone was invited. Durant posted a triple double (28 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds). Curry and Thompson both splashed 25 points into the net on a combined 18-of-27 mark from the field and 12-of-18 clip from 3-point range. Andre Iguodala (10 points) and Zaza Pachulia (nine points) even got in on the fun, too. Like our Warriors Facebook page for more Warriors news, commentary and conversation.

“Our guys are so talented and can light up the scoreboard,” Kerr said. “So they can win a lot of games without being totally dialed in and without defending at a high level.”

Yet, the Warriors believe they thrived offensively at a high level partly because of the fresher legs stemmed from no shootaround. Durant also observed that “guys were getting ready for the game” anyway at the Warriors’ practice facility by receiving treatment and completing shooting workouts on their own time. Well, not everyone.

“I didn’t show up,” Curry mused. “I took the morning off.”

That’s because Curry and LeBron James hopped on a 20-minute conference call with NBA officials to draft their respective players for the 2018 NBA All-Star game on Feb. 18 in Los Angeles. As far as everyone else though?

“We have a group that coach can trust and approach game day with the seriousness and professionalism, no matter if it’s mandatory shootaround or if the gym is open or the training staff or coaching staff are in there to help guys get ready,” Curry said. “Everybody has a solid routine, a set routine to rely on to get themselves ready. Even though we didn’t have our normal film and walk through, guys rely on that.”

Kerr’s trust has only gone so far. He relied on Curry, Thompson, Durant, Iguodala and Draymond Green to close out a game that Minnesota refused to lose.

“That’s been our mindset many nights this year,” Kerr said. “I’m completely willing to understand that and accept it because of our circumstances and because it’s January. But we can’t expect to play like this all year and be really successful in the playoffs. at some point, you have to guard.”

Hence, it sounds like Kerr will go over plenty of those concepts in future morning shootarounds.