OAKLAND, Calif. — Say what you want about guard Jamal Crawford. But if he's not on the roster next season, the Golden State Warriors will no doubt be short some firepower, especially late in the game.

Crawford showed why his nickname in the New York Knicks' locker room was the closer. He scored 18 of his game-high 31 points in the fourth quarter. His defibrillation of the Warriors' offense wasn't enough, however, as the Warriors fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 105-97, at Oracle Arena on Wednesday night.

A 12-point third quarter and poor defense down the stretch was too much to overcome. But Crawford's explosion underscores a decision the Warriors will have to make this offseason and the repercussions of that decision.

It has been widely reported that coach Don Nelson doesn't think Crawford will fit on this roster. But Crawford has proven this season he's one of the Warriors' better late-game performers. Assuming the Warriors won't blow everyone out next season, couldn't they use a guy who's experienced at producing down the stretch? That's a question the Warriors will have to answer this offseason.

"He's known for making big shots," guard C.J. Watson said of Crawford.

"We definitely try to go to him when we need one."

According to 82games.com, Crawford is 11th in the league in clutch time scoring (which it defines as fourth quarter or overtime, less than five minutes remaining and neither team ahead by more than five points). He is ahead of San Antonio's Tony Parker, Atlanta's Joe Johnson and Denver's Chauncey Billups.

According to the same popular NBA stats Web site, Crawford is ninth in fourth-quarter scoring at 6.1 points per game. MVP candidates LeBron James (7.7) and Kobe Bryant (7.4) lead the league in that category.

Swingman Stephen Jackson was the next Warrior listed at 5.6 points, but his came on 38.5 percent shooting, compared to 45.1 percent from Crawford.

Wednesday, Crawford resurrected a dreadful Warriors offensive and set a Warriors season-high for points in the fourth quarter.

Golden State lost control of the game with a 12-point third quarter.

That tied their season-low for points in a quarter (the Warriors scored 12 in the fourth quarter at Memphis on Nov. 3). It was their third consecutive game failing to score 20 points in at least one quarter.

Extract the poor third-quarter effort, and the Warriors shot 50 percent for the game. With it, they finished at 44.2 percent and failed to score triple digits at home for the first time since their Dec. 26 win over Boston.

Crawford, who missed nine of his first 13 shots, knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to get going. He made all four he hoisted in the period, He nailed one with 4:37 left to pull the Warriors with 94-89.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, No one else could get going. Plus, the Warriors couldn't guard Sebastian Telfair. His 14 fourth-quarter points did even more damage as he kept the Warriors at bay with a few big baskets the latter a 3-pointer from the left wing at the 1:38 mark, putting Minnesota ahead 102-92.

Still, the performance had to make some think twice about whether he should be headed out the door this offseason. Crawford, who is averaging 26.8 points over his last six games, has noted deficiencies on defense and his shot selection has been known to draw the ire of Oracle fans.

But, as it stands, he is arguably the best on the roster at getting the shot he wants. And perhaps the best at getting a look for someone else as well.

Is that enough for him to stick around? Or can the Warriors entrust that task to Jackson or guard Monta Ellis? "We have such good scorers on the team, everybody has to stay happy and get their thing going," Crawford said after getting treatment on his ailing back. "But I'll be the closer if that's what they need me to be."

NOTES: Center Andris Biedrins returned to the lineup after missing 12 games with a sprained left ankle. He finished with nine points and six rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench. ... Forward Corey Maggette told fans after the game that he probably wasn't going to return this season.

He's been suffering from post-concussion syndrome and has missed six of the last seven games. ... Minnesota rookie forward Kevin Love, a Rookie of the Year candidate, is two rebounds shy of breaking the Timberwolves' rookie record for rebounds in a season. He finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds in 25 minutes.