On Tuesday night, the atmosphere in Minnesota echoed memories of 2018, a time that many Timberwolves fans would rather forget. During the tumultuous fall of that year, Jimmy Butler orchestrated a dramatic practice showdown, leading a scrimmage against the starters with a group of lesser-known players. Fast forward to this week, and Butler re-emerged as a formidable force, guiding an undermanned Golden State Warriors team to victory over the Timberwolves.
In a surprising turn of events, the Warriors triumphed with a score of 99-88 after losing their star player, Stephen Curry, to a strained hamstring in the second quarter. Butler showcased his leadership, contributing 20 points, 11 rebounds (including four offensive boards), and eight assists. Despite Curry's departure, the Warriors maintained a solid defensive stance and received timely shooting from players like Draymond Green, who sank four 3-pointers during the game. At one point, Golden State extended their lead to a comfortable 23 points.
The Warriors now lead the series 1-0 with Game 2 set for Thursday in Minnesota. However, the uncertainty surrounding Curry's availability looms large. An MRI scheduled for Wednesday will assess the severity of his hamstring strain. Reports indicated that Curry left the arena limping, raising concerns for the Warriors that even a mild Grade 1 strain could sideline him for a significant portion of the series.
On the Timberwolves' side, the performance was lackluster, particularly from their young star, Anthony Edwards. Edwards struggled to find his shot early in the game, going 0-of-10 to start and finishing the first half with just one point. His struggles echoed throughout the team, as they appeared disoriented by the zone defense employed by Warriors coach Steve Kerr. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch commented, "It starts with Anthony. He struggled early and the light went out... You’re the leader of the team. You have to come out and set the tone."
In response to the criticism, Edwards acknowledged his performance, stating, "People are going to try to blame whatever, blame whoever. They can blame me. I just didn’t play good enough.”
Despite a rocky start, Minnesota began to piece together their game plan in the fourth quarter, narrowing the Warriors' lead to single digits. However, the timely scoring from Buddy Hield, who finished with 24 points and five three-pointers, helped the Warriors maintain their edge. Overall, the Timberwolves struggled with their shooting, finishing the game below 40% as a team. Although Edwards led the team with 23 points, he shot 9-of-22 from the field. Other notable contributions came from Julius Randle, who scored 18 points on 4-of-11 shooting, and Naz Reid, who added 19 points off the bench.
As the series moves to Game 2, the Timberwolves face critical questions about their offensive strategy and leadership. With Curry's status uncertain, both teams will be looking to capitalize on this pivotal matchup. Minnesota must regroup quickly if they hope to level the series and avoid a repeat of the past.
