MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The Golden State Warriors proved their resilience in the face of adversity, pulling off a gritty 99-88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series on Tuesday — despite losing Stephen Curry early to a hamstring injury.
Curry exited the game in the second quarter after making a mid-range jumper and grabbing his left leg in discomfort. He was ruled out shortly afterward and spent the rest of the game in the locker room with ice on his hamstring. But even without their superstar, the Warriors stepped up.
Team Effort Fuels the Win:
Veteran guard Buddy Hield sparked the offense with 24 points, hitting 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, continuing his hot shooting from Game 7 against Houston. Draymond Green also caught fire early, knocking down four threes in the first half and finishing with 18 points in an inspired performance.
Jimmy Butler delivered a vintage showing, nearly posting a triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. His leadership and two-way impact were instrumental in steadying Golden State after Curry’s departure.
“It was a beautiful thing to see,” Green said postgame. “Everyone who touched the floor brought something. We stayed together.”
Warriors Clamp Down on Defense:
Head coach Steve Kerr implemented a variety of defensive looks, including a steady dose of zone, that left Minnesota flustered. The Timberwolves, who had been sharp in their first-round series against the Lakers, came out ice-cold from long range — missing their first 16 attempts from three-point land.
They didn’t hit a three until Naz Reid broke the drought midway through the third quarter, by which point the Warriors had built a commanding 20-point lead. Minnesota finished a dismal 5-of-29 from deep.
Edwards Struggles Early, Wolves Falter Late:
Anthony Edwards managed to finish with 23 points and 14 rebounds but was scoreless for much of the first half and couldn’t get into a rhythm. Naz Reid added 19 points off the bench, and Julius Randle contributed 16. Despite the late push, Minnesota trailed by as much as 23 and never seriously threatened in the fourth quarter.
“Blame me,” Edwards said. “I just didn’t play well enough. It’s that simple.”
Minnesota head coach Chris Finch was blunt in his assessment: “We had chances to push the pace, but our decisions in transition were awful. Even when the shots weren’t falling, we failed to generate consistent, quality looks.”
Looking Ahead:
With the loss, Minnesota continues a troubling trend — home teams have yet to win in the second round of these playoffs. They’ll get a shot to even the series in Game 2 on Thursday.
But all eyes will be on Curry’s status. The Warriors are hopeful their four-time champion and all-time three-point leader can return quickly, but as of now, his availability remains uncertain.
