The Warriors didn’t obtain the shock they wanted to win Recreation 4 of their Western Convention semifinal sequence with the Timberwolves on Monday.
So now they’re going to want one thing a lot, a lot stronger.
Down 3-1 and heading to Minnesota for a close-out Recreation 5, the Dubs will want a miracle.
Particularly, one of many medical selection.
If the Warriors don’t have Steph Curry on the ground for Recreation 5 and past on this sequence, there’s no cause to suppose Golden State goes to win one other recreation.
And even when Curry is again, the Dubs are in all probability not rattling off three straight wins to advance to the Western Convention Finals.
This crew is finished.
The half-empty area with nonetheless minutes to play in Monday’s Recreation 4 mentioned all of it.
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry #30 acknowledges Golden State Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis #32 as he walks off the courtroom after their 117-110 NBA Western Convention semifinal loss in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves on the Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Could 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
The Warriors didn’t present as much as win a must-win playoff recreation.
Why would followers want to stay round for the complete 48 minutes?
13 groups have come again from a 3-1 sequence deficit within the historical past of the NBA playoffs.
The Warriors turned a two-point halftime lead right into a 20-point deficit going into the fourth quarter.
So no, I don’t suppose the Dubs shall be Workforce No. 14.
In the meantime, nobody ought to count on the Chase Heart crowd to point out up on Sunday for a Recreation 6. Because the schedule at present reads, that contest is not going to show crucial except Warriors crew physician Rick Celebrini has completed his most interesting work thus far in returning Curry from a big hamstring harm in per week.
Which is to counsel you shouldn’t maintain your breath or financial institution on utilizing that ticket.
The record of individuals responsible for Monday’s second-half disaster is lengthy.
Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards (5) celebrates his 3-point basket in opposition to the Golden State Warriors within the third quarter of Recreation 4 of the Western Convention Second Spherical NBA Playoffs on the Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Could 12, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
First, credit score the Timberwolves. Their third quarter was a masterpiece — the form of body the Warriors used to placed on unsuspecting, lesser groups.
For those who had any questions on Anthony Edwards’ superstardom credentials, they had been answered on Monday.
Former Warriors coach and NBA announcer Mark Jackson used to say, “Mama, there goes that man.” The one factor lacking from Edwards’ efficiency Monday was that catchphrase on the printed.
He was magnificent. The Wolves had been incredible.
In the meantime, the Warriors’ two remaining stars — Jimmy Butler and Draymond Inexperienced — had been downright terrible in Recreation 4.
Butler confirmed as much as Chase Heart trying drained. He performed precisely that means. He was passive at greatest on Monday, taking pictures solely 9 instances when he knew nicely that something lower than 20 photographs on an evening wouldn’t be sufficient for the Dubs.
Inexperienced urged postgame that Butler was beneath the climate Monday.
Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III #10 shoots a layup within the second quarter of their NBA Western Convention semifinal recreation in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves on the Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Could 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
He’s actually injured, and the playoffs’ every-other-day schedule doesn’t assist.
However Butler was merely not a think about Recreation 4.
Not less than not in a great way. He was minus-27 within the second half.
“He wasn’t as aggressive tonight,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr mentioned in a bid to win the regional Apparent Statements Contest.
Inexperienced, in the meantime, was a turnstile on protection.
A nasty recreation from both Butler — the crew’s offensive engine with Curry out — or Inexperienced — the crew’s on a regular basis defensive engine — would have been manageable.
For each to occur in the identical recreation?
Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Inexperienced (23) reacts to a referee throughout their recreation in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves within the third quarter of Recreation 4 of the Western Convention Second Spherical NBA Playoffs on the Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Could 12, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
That’s downright insurmountable.
Jonathan Kuminga’s stellar first half lined up a number of the offensive drawback. Nonetheless, his second half, when Minnesota truly centered on defending him, proved to be an issue in and of itself. Kuminga had seven factors on seven subject objective makes an attempt within the second half on Monday, posting a minus-19 rating.
Add in Brandin Podziemski’s all-time terrible funk and a endless cavalcade of weird five-man items (what number of alternative ways can Warriors coach Steve Kerr put collectively a one-shooter lineup?) and the Warriors didn’t stand likelihood of maintaining with Edwards, Julius Randle (31 factors) and a Wolves crew that discovered third, fourth, fifth, and sixth gear within the second half, and you’ve got a sequence that shouldn’t be on for much longer.
Significantly, what’s the formulation for the Warriors in Recreation 5?
Edwards has solved the Dubs’ zone protection — their neutralizing look.
Moreover, nobody can keep in entrance of him on the perimeter, opening up his 3-point shot or at the least making his dribble penetration straightforward.
Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards #5 drives to the basket previous Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III #10 within the third quarter of their NBA Western Convention semifinal recreation on the Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Could 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
In the meantime, the Dubs spend offensive possessions passing the ball round till somebody has to hoist a foul shot earlier than the shot clock expires, lastly answering the long-held philosophy query: Are you able to be so selfless that you’re, the truth is, egocentric?
Right here’s one other huge query — although this isn’t a lot of a thinker:
Do you actually suppose that crew is successful in Minneapolis?
Even with the Timberwolves virtually sure to fiddle in comical methods Wednesday (the Wolves closed with rotation gamers and in some way solely received by seven factors), there’s merely no cause to consider the Dubs can play competently sufficient to take full benefit.
That’s, except Curry is within the lineup, which — for the document — you shouldn’t count on.
I wouldn’t rely on any of it, identical to how the Warriors, within the largest recreation of the yr, couldn’t rely on their on-court stars to constantly play like stars on this sequence.
Then once more, if Buddy Hield is true and Curry is, the truth is, “touched by an angel… touched by God,” the Warriors stand an opportunity of a miracle occurring.
Then, we’ll see if Curry can carry a crew again from the lifeless.
Golden State Warriors’ Buddy Hield #7 is fouled by Minnesota Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert #27 as he goes to the basket within the first quarter of their NBA Western Convention semifinal recreation on the Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Could 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
Initially Printed: Could 12, 2025 at 11:39 PM PDT
