Stephen Curry scores 30 and dishes out eight assists as Warriors beat Timberwolves 114-106

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry sunk a 39-foot jumper from nearly halfcourt to beat the third-quarter buzzer and finished with 30 points and eight assists, leading the Golden State Warriors past the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-106 on Sunday night in the teams' second meeting over three days.

Curry found Jonathan Kuminga for a go-ahead dunk with 2:55 to play and hit Buddy Hield for a clutch 3-pointer at the 58-second mark.

Hield scored 27 points, including consecutive 3-pointers midway through the third that tied the game at 69 and another that put Golden State ahead. Hield had seven 3s and is one shy of becoming the 17th player in NBA history to reach 2,000.

Kuminga had 20 points and seven rebounds.

Anthony Edwards scored 27 points as Minnesota's four-game winning streak ended.

Timberwolves: G Rob Dillingham missed his fourth straight game with a sprained right ankle and fifth consecutive overall. ... Minnesota had won five straight in the series.

Warriors: Andrew Wiggins was out with a troublesome right ankle that limited him Friday.

Draymond Green was whistled for a foul 13 seconds into the second half on which a driving Rudy Gobert grabbed at the left side of his face. The Warriors challenged and it was determined on review that Green had made contact with the big man's eye.

After Hield’s 3-pointer started Golden State’s scoring in the second quarter, Curry had 10 straight points, including consecutive 3s. Curry hit another 3-pointer 53 seconds before halftime, moments after Gary Payton II blocked Julius Randle's shot.

Minnesota hosts the Lakers on Friday in a game added to the schedule after the Timberwolves missed advancing to the NBA Cup knockout rounds. The Warriors play at Houston on Wednesday in the NBA Cup quarterfinals, having beaten the Rockets in 15 straight meetings and eight in a row on the road.

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Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, left, dribbles around Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski, second from left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) reacts as he is fouled by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) argues with referee Danielle Scott, right, after he received a technical foul during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Sunday Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives to the basket against against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) blocks a shot-attempt by Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody (4) drives to the basket against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, top, drives to the basket against Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) takes a 3-point shot over Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) and guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, top, drives to the basket against against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Josh Allen took a pounding, doled out punishment and delivered Buffalo its first road playoff victory in more than three decades, 27-24 over Jacksonville in the AFC's wild-card opener Sunday.

With linebacker Devin Lloyd bearing down on him, Allen found Brandin Cooks for 36 yards just before the two-minute warning and then capped the go-ahead drive with a 1-yard touchdown run in which Jacksonville let him score.

On the play before his score, Allen gained 10 yards on a sneak, refusing to go down while being pushed and pulled to the goal line.

“Just trusting everybody on the field,” Allen said. "Great win, great team win. All we’ve got to do is play our game, find a way to win a football game. We’re on to the next.”

Buffalo will play at Denver or New England next week, a chance to build a road winning streak after a decades-long skid.

“We got to go do it again. We got to go do it again," Allen said.

Focused on getting rid of the ball quickly and negating Jacksonville’s pass rush most of the game, Allen completed 28 of 35 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown. He ran for two scores, was sacked just once and played turnover-free football. Khalil Shakir caught 12 passes for 82 yards for the Bills.

It was necessary considering NFL rushing leader James Cook was mostly bottled up, finishing with 46 yards on 15 carries.

“You know, we’re going to play for each other, we’re gonna fight to the very last second, and you saw that here today,” Allen said.

Buffalo (13-5) intercepted a deflected pass on Jacksonville’s final drive to seal the victory.

The Bills had been 0-5 on the road in the playoffs under coach Sean McDermott, starting with a 10-3 loss at Jacksonville in the 2017 wild-card round. The Bills had dropped eight consecutive postseason games on the road since winning at Miami in the 1992 AFC championship game. It had been the NFL’s second-longest, active road playoff skid.

The Jaguars (13-5) took the lead with 4:03 to play on Trevor Lawrence’s third TD pass of the game, but they couldn’t hold it against the NFL’s reigning MVP.

Lawrence completed 18 of 30 passes for 207 yards, with TD throws to Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington and Travis Etienne. Washington finished with seven catches for 107 yards.

Coach Liam Coen surely will get questioned for not running the ball more against one of the league’s most porous run defenses.

Etienne and rookie Bhayshul Tuten combined for 118 yards on just 14 carries.

Allen, meanwhile, showed his toughness. He twice ended up in the medical tent in the first half but didn’t miss a snap. He got hammered in the head twice during one play, with Josh Hines-Allen landing on the side of his helmet right after teammate Travon Walker tackled him to the ground. His left ear appeared to be bleeding, but he got checked out and returned.

Allen later slammed his right hand into the helmet of right guard O’Cyrus Torrence after releasing the ball. And he completed the injury trifecta when his left leg got bent awkwardly on his 2-yard TD run.

Allen stayed on the ground following that last hit from Hines-Allen and gingerly walked to the sideline and back into the tent. But, as usual, the 6-foot-5, 237-pounder powered through and was back on the field making plays.

The Jaguars had a chance to tie the game at the end of the first half, but Cam Little was wide left on a 54-yarder. The miss ended a streak of 20 consecutive field goals made for the second-year pro from Arkansas.

Little kicked the two longest field goals in NFL history this season — a 68-yarder at Las Vegas and a 67-yarder last week against Tennessee.

He got a chance after the Bills were flagged for being offside following a 34-yard completion that got Little into range.

Bills S Jordan Poyer (hamstring) was ruled out to start the third quarter, a huge loss for an already banged-up secondary. It left the Bills to play with rookie Jordan Hancock and second-year Cole Bishop. WR Gabe Davis, who played for Jacksonville last season, injured his left knee in the fourth and was carted to the locker room and ruled out. WR Tyrell Shavers injured his left knee during a punt return but returned in the second half.

Jaguars RG Patrick Mekari (back) left in the third. LG Ezra Cleveland also was banged up and alternating plays with rookie Wyatt Milum. WR Parker Washington was evaluated for a concussion in the first half and cleared to return.

The Bills will play at Denver or New England next weekend.

The Jaguars will turn their attention toward improving a roster that lacked enough difference-makers on both sides of the ball.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Buffalo Bills' Ray Davis, bottom right, fumbles a kickoff return from the Jacksonville Jaguars as teammate Baylon Spector (54) and Jacksonville Jaguars' Devin Lloyd (0) try to recover the ball during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) is tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen gets up after collecting a first down near the Jacksonville Jaguars end zone later in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) pushes in for a first down as Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead (91) tries to stop him during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)