Previewing the Warriors and Timberwolves matchup in the NBA playoffs
USA TODAY’s Lorenzo Reyes breaks down his thoughts on Steph Curry and the aging Warriors team going up against Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves.
Sports Pulse
The Minnesota Timberwolves did what they needed to do. They beat the Golden State Warriors 117-93 in Game 2 on Thursday, tying the Western Conference semifinals series 1-1.
The Timberwolves also appeared to have avoided a problematic injury to All-Star Anthony Edwards, who sprained his ankle in the second quarter, was listed as questionable to return but started the third quarter and played normal minutes.
Now, can the Warriors – as the series shifts to San Francisco for Games 3-4 – do what they need to do and find a way to extend the series until Steph Curry can return from the left hamstring strain he sustained in Game 1?
It’s going to be difficult for Golden State to beat Minnesota without Curry, and the timeline for his return – about 10 days – indicates he could be back for Game 5 on Wednesday, May 14. The Warriors said he will be re-evaluated Wednesday. If the Warriors can win one of the next three games, there is a long break before Game 6 on Sunday, May 18, giving Curry more time to heal.
Game 3 is Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
Here are the winners and losers from Game 2 of Warriors-Timberwolves:
Warriors-Timberwolves Game 2 winners
Julius Randle
Randle had a quiet Game 1 offensively and responded in Game 2 with 24 points (10-for-17 shooting), 11 assists and seven rebounds.
He was an overlooked part of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade that sent Towns to New York and Randle to Minnesota. But he is a vital part of the Timberwolves’ success. He scored at least 22 points in the final four games against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.
“When he plays like that, we’re hard to beat,” Edwards said.
Randle has a player option on the final season of his deal in 2025-26. He can either become a free agent in the summer or finish the contract at $30.9 million next season. At some point the Timberwolves will need to decide what they’re willing to pay him.
Steve Kerr’s lineup tinkering
Warriors coach Steve Kerr inserted Quinten Post into the starting lineup with Curry out. That didn’t yield. Post played just three minutes and didn’t score. But Kerr also went deep into his bench to see who could provide serviceable minutes.
Jonathan Kuminga, who had fallen out of the rotation and didn’t play in four of the seven first-round games against Houston, scored 18 points, and Trayce Jackson-Davis had 15 points. They were a combined 14-for-17 from the field.
“We have to figure out what we’re going to be able to do in this series without Steph,” Kerr said. “Gave a lot of people a lot of chances. … We learned a lot and this game will help us figure out how to move forward.”
They struggled defensively without Curry, but Kerr used the opportunity wisely. Let’s see what he comes up with in Game 3.
Minnesota’s bench
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 20 points, Naz Reid had 11 points and five assists and Donte DiVincenzo had nine points and five assists off the bench. They were a combined 10-for-22 on 3-pointers.
Anthony Edwards
Edwards gave the Timberwolves, their fans and anyone who wants to see healthy players on the court a scare with the sprained ankle. Edwards finished with 20 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals and said after the game the ankle feels great.
Injuries continue to play a role in the playoffs. The Cleveland Cavaliers were without Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter in their Game 2 loss to the Indiana Pacers, and Curry’s injury has a significant impact on this series.
Warriors-Timberwolves Game 2 losers
Golden State’s offense
Without Curry, the Warriors’ offense sputtered. Curry makes that machine go, and it makes sense they would have trouble in a game he didn’t play. He opens the floor with his 3-point shooting, making it easier for his teammates to score. They need to fix that.
Draymond Green had just nine points on 3-for-10 shooting, Brandin Podziemski was 1-for-4 on 3s and the Warriors were 9-for-32 on 3s – 28.1%.
Draymond Green
Green collected his fifth technical foul in the playoffs – and two more earn him a one-game suspension. With Curry sidelined, the Warriors can’t afford to have Green miss a game because of a suspension.
After getting the technical foul for an inadvertent forearm to Reid’s head, Green berated the officials and was close to another tech. Curry and Jackson-Davis intervened and tried to calm down Green so he didn’t get ejected.
“It’s part of Draymond,” Kerr said. “The same thing that makes him such a competitor and a winner puts him over the top sometimes. We know that, and it’s our job to try and help him stay poised, stay composed. But the competition is so meaningful to him occasionally he goes over the line.”
#Warriors #sputter #Kerr #tinkers #Green #explodes #Golden #State #win
