SAN FRANCISCO – The whole lot was in place for a gritty, unbelievable Warriors playoff win over Minnesota at Chase Middle on Saturday night time.
With Steph Curry watching from the sidelines with a gimpy left hamstring that may probably hold him out till a minimum of a possible Sport 6, Jimmy Butler scored 33 factors and pulled out a classic takeover sport befitting of his “Playoff Jimmy” mantle.
Jonathan Kuminga wowed with 30 factors, utilizing his overwhelming athleticism to play the right complement to his veteran teammate.
Nevertheless it was not sufficient.
Wolves celebrity Anthony Edwards scored 28 of his 36 factors within the second half and Julius Randle had a 24-point triple double handy the Warriors a gut-wrenching 102-97 loss that put Golden State in a 2-1 collection gap whereas returning home-court benefit to Minnesota within the best-of-seven Western Convention semifinal collection.
“We can compete without Steph. We’re still as confident as ever,” Butler stated. “We going to go back to the film and the drawing boards and figure it out, and come back in here on Monday and get this thing to 2-2.”
After being the topic of racially-abusive heckling in Sport 2, Draymond Inexperienced fouled out with 4:38 left. He had two factors, two rebounds, 4 assists and 5 turnovers, however the Warriors’ protection collapsed with out him.
The Warriors led going into the fourth quarter, however noticed their slim lead evaporate with a 17-7 Wolves run to start the interval. With no Curry and Inexperienced down the stretch, Butler and Kuminga’s nice nights went to waste.
Curry’s absence was felt early on, when Golden State tried only one 3-pointer within the first quarter.
After one other gradual begin to the second quarter, when it took till the 5:44 mark of the body to achieve double-digit factors, the Warriors went on a 13-1 run to take a 42-40 lead with 41 seconds remaining earlier than halftime.
The Timberwolves didn’t make a area purpose over the past 6 1/2 minutes of the half.
Kuminga efficiently blasted to the rim when given the ball with area, scoring 12 within the half and giving the Warriors a two-point halftime benefit regardless of lacking all 5 of their 3-point makes an attempt.
The Warriors have been 6 of 11 from distance within the third quarter, with Buddy Hield making three to enhance Butler and Kuminga’s drives to the rim as Golden State led 73-69 after three quarters.
“Scoring is never the problem,” Butler stated. “I think 97 can win in the playoffs. It’s us on the other end. We’ve got to stop them from scoring. We have got to not turn the ball over. We’ve got to get back. I definitely think we can score with the best of them, but we have got to be able to guard with the best of them as well.”
Golden State will look to even the collection in Sport 4 at Chase Middle on Monday.
Initially Revealed: Might 10, 2025 at 8:23 PM PDT
