Warriors’ Zaza Pachulia offers big jolt off bench in loss to Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS — During his first 118 games with the Warriors, Zaza Pachulia embraced routine. Knowing that he would start the first and third quarters made it easier for him to settle into a rhythm.

Now, little more than two weeks after JaVale McGee supplanted him in the starting lineup, Pachulia is still figuring out how to prepare mentally when he has no idea when he’ll play. Less than 48 hours after a six-minute dud at Portland, he delivered one of the best performances of his Golden State career in Sunday afternoon’s win over Minnesota.

In 25 minutes, Pachulia had 16 points on 7-for-9 shooting and 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.