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The Golden State Warriors received Recreation 1 of the Western Convention semifinals, 99-88, over the Minnesota Timberwolves regardless of dropping Steph Curry within the first half with a left hamstring pressure.
Curry requested out early within the second quarter after showing to favor his left leg and went straight to the locker room throughout a timeout. Common supervisor Mike Dunleavy checked on him and the group quickly ruled him finished for the night. Curry and the Warriors have been in management when he went down, up 30-20 after the third of Draymond Inexperienced's 4 first half 3s. They maintained an excellent defensive effort and a double-digit lead for a lot of the recreation.
The Timberwolves struggled mightily on offense for a lot of the recreation. They shot simply 39.5 p.c from the sector and began 0-for-16 from 3-point vary earlier than ending 5-for-29. Anthony Edwards got here alive for 22 second-half factors after only one within the first half, nevertheless it was too little, too late for Minnesota.
Buddy Hield turned in one other phenomenal efficiency for Golden State on each ends of the court docket, scoring 24 factors and recording a +22 (each recreation highs) in 29 minutes. Jimmy Butler had 20 factors whereas Inexperienced had 18 for the Warriors.
— Anthony Slater and Austin Inexperienced
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NBA playoff takeaways: Warriors beat Timberwolves however lose Steph Curry, Pacers steal Recreation 2 from Cavs
MINNEAPOLIS — Watch under as Steve Kerr confirms the Warriors assume Steph Curry (hamstring) will miss not less than Recreation 2 and explains how they are going to reset with out him.
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MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards spent all final week listening to about how nice he was, about how he was the enormous slayer. He had simply added LeBron James and Luka Doncic to his checklist of stars vanquished within the playoffs, and now he was coming for Steph, Draymond and Jimmy.
Then he delivered his worst efficiency of his playoff profession within the first half of Recreation 1. He was 0 for 10 from the sector and had only one level because the Wolves fell behind large. At the least 4 of these missed photographs have been on the rim, a unbroken subject for Edwards this season. His first level didn’t come till there was 1:04 left within the first half. His first discipline objective didn't come till over 4 minutes into the third quarter.
He completed with 23 factors on 9-for-22 taking pictures, however did have 14 rebounds.
He picked it up within the fourth quarter, serving to the Wolves pull inside 9, nevertheless it was too little too late. In a crucial defensive error late within the recreation, Edwards didn’t keep glued to Buddy Hield, giving up a 3 with 2:42 to go that pushed Golden State's result in 12 factors and iced the sport. If the Wolves had even a B- recreation from Ant, they in all probability might have pulled this one out.
The Warriors' zone appeared to have him out of kinds for a lot of the recreation, very similar to Recreation 2 towards the Los Angeles Lakers. Edwards recovered in that collection to assist dispatch the Lakers in 5 video games. However he has some learning to do after this one. It simply wasn't ok.
MINNEAPOLIS — This was the infamous practice over again. Jimmy Butler and a bunch of function gamers punking the Timberwolves on their very own court docket.
Butler was solely 7-for-20 for 20 factors, however he had 11 rebounds, six of the on the offensive finish, and eight assists. With Curry out of the sport, Butler shared the court docket with gamers like Gui Santos, Quentin Submit and the little-used Jonathan Kuminga. And he received. He discovered Gary Payton II and Buddy Hield for 3s within the closing 4 minutes that pushed again a Wolves comeback try.
Again in 2018, when Butler was attempting to extricate himself from the Timberwolves, he confirmed up at a follow in coaching camp and grabbed G-Leaguers and end-of-the-bench guys to scrimmage towards the starters. In a fiery efficiency, Butler led his group to a win regardless of not taking any photographs apart from two free throws. The follow has gone down in Wolves lore as one of many embarrassing in franchise historical past, and that's saying one thing.
Recreation 1 was proper up there with it. The Wolves missed their first 16 3-pointers and have been 5 for 29 from deep within the recreation. Anthony Edwards began 0 for 10 from the ground and had only one level within the first half. Donte DiVincenzo was 1 for 7 from 3 and the Wolves turned the ball over 16 instances.
It was an ultra-disappointing efficiency, particularly for a Wolves crowd that got here for blood with Butler. However the Wolves can't panic. If Curry has to overlook one other recreation or two, the door opens. However they’ll should stroll by way of it.
Again taking part in in Minneapolis for the primary time since 2021, I reckon Jimmy Butler loved that.
He was 2 assists off a triple-double with 20 factors and 11 rebounds. Chatting with TNT Sports activities on court docket after the Warriors’ win, he knew he needed to step up following Stephen Curry’s second-quarter absence.
“Massive time for the fellows,’” stated Butler. “We received’t step again, I’ll let you know that. It’s onerous taking part in with out that man. However we obtained one on the highway, after which we do what we obtained to do.
“Steph is our greatest participant and that (Recreation 2) is way simpler once we obtained him.”
And to win again in Minnesota?
“Nice. With a brand new group, within the playoffs… I don’t assume you may ask for something higher than to be right here and get it carried out in Minnesota.”
MINNEAPOLIS — The Warriors are calling Steph Curry day-to-day with the hamstring pressure. MRI tomorrow for additional replace. Kerr stated Curry was "crushed" concerning the damage.
GO FURTHER
Steph Curry leaves Recreation 1 vs. Timberwolves with hamstring pressure
MINNEAPOLIS — Regardless of his personal taking pictures struggles, Jimmy Butler finally created sufficient offense when the Warriors completely needed to have it whereas defending a 20-point lead. He completed with 20 factors, 11 rebounds and eight assists — the final chunk of them establishing nook 3s from Buddy Hield and Gary Payton II in clutch time.
Hield backed up his big Recreation 7 with an essential Recreation 1. He performed the function of Curry within the second half, quieting Minnesota's climb a number of instances with 5 3s and 24 bench factors. Draymond Inexperienced led a sturdy defensive effort and scored 18 himself. The Timberwolves have been held to 88 factors.
Steve Kerr, pulling the right strings all night time, even obtained some unlikely bench manufacturing from Kevon Looney, Jonathan Kuminga and Pat Spencer. Particularly given the 1-0 cushion, it appears unlikely Curry will likely be on the ground in Recreation 2 (and probably longer), that means Kerr should rearrange his rotation and technique in an effort to seek out sufficient scoring. However that'll be carried out in a extra snug method with a 1-0 lead as an alternative of a 1-0 gap.
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MINNEAPOLIS — This second-round collection between the Warriors and Timberwolves might finally be determined by Steph Curry's first half hamstring pressure. If he misses a number of video games — which appears possible — it'll be tough for the Warriors to attain or get near 4 wins with out him.
However 48 hours after surviving in Recreation 7 on the highway in Houston, the Warriors' others dragged them throughout the end line in Minnesota for a Recreation 1 highway win that not less than provides them non permanent respiration room whereas Curry heals.
MINNEAPOLIS — Timberwolves coach Chris Finch on Anthony Edwards after Edwards had only one level within the first half:
“It begins with Anthony. He struggled early and the sunshine went out.
"You’re the chief of the group. It’s a must to come out and set the tone.”
That’s some effort by the Warriors, who saved the Timberwolves at arm’s size regardless of the common threats of a comeback by way of the second half.
Not a high-scoring Recreation 1, however if you’re at house and don’t hit a single 3 within the first half…
Closing: Warriors 99-88 Timberwolves
FINAL – Warriors 99, Timberwolves 88
A second spectacular defensive efficiency in three days sees the Warriors win Recreation 1, 99-88, regardless of no Stephen Curry for effectively over a half. Recreation 2 is on Thursday.
Persist with us proper right here at The Athletic for postgame evaluation and the newest from the Goal Middle on Curry's hamstring damage.
MINNEAPOLIS — Wolves are gonna lose Recreation 1 amid a rash of missed 3s and blown defensive coverages. Even a B- recreation would've received it. With Steph Curry ailing, Minnesota remains to be in OK form, however this was a massively disappointing recreation.
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This autumn 0:47 – Warriors 97, Timberwolves 86
Barring a dramatic late comeback, it seems Golden State goes to by some means escape with a Recreation 1 win regardless of no Steph Curry for a majority of the night time. The power was drained from the Minnesota house crowd after that final Timberwolves offensive possession, like so many others, got here up empty regardless of a number of alternatives.
This autumn 2:11 – Warriors 96, Timberwolves 84
A enjoyable sequence there:
Golden State again up by double digits with simply over two minutes remaining.
The offensive boards are easing the Minnesota stress on the Warriors.
The undersized Warriors have 16 offensive rebounds on the night time, 4 of these coming up to now within the fourth quarter.
Jimmy Butler is main either side with six.
MINNEAPOLIS — Six offensive boards for Jimmy Butler. That is the practice over again.
This autumn 4:19 – Warriors 90, Timberwolves 76
Some large minutes off the bench from Kevon Looney, the one true heart on the Warriors' roster, with Draymond Inexperienced on the bench resulting from 5 fouls. He had a number of offensive rebounds in that final Warriors possession earlier than Steve Kerr referred to as timeout to attract up a play.
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MINNEAPOLIS — Warriors began with 5 fourth-quarter factors in six minutes — a Kuminga nook 3 and two Butler free throws. Minnesota is already within the bonus. Each Golden State offensive possession was a wrestle.
Then they added 5 extra proper after I typed that: Jimmy Butler creates a nook 3 for Buddy Hield after which hits a floater. Feels prefer it must be Butler to deliver them house.
This autumn 5:18 – Warriors 90, Timberwolves 76
Golden State lastly responds as Buddy Hield knocks down a contested 3-pointer and Jimmy Butler hits a floater over Rudy Gobert. A large 5-0 run to place the Warriors again up by 14.
This autumn 6:02 – Warriors 85, Timberwolves 76
It's right down to a single-digit lead for Golden State after Rudy Gobert attracts one other foul. Minnesota's vaunted protection has clamped down, and the Timberwolves are already within the bonus.
