Golden State Warriors' loss of Steph Curry tilts the series balance in favor of Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Golden State Warriors stumbled without Steph Curry in Game 2, giving the Minnesota Timberwolves a much-needed 117-93 victory.
On the court without their star player, the Warriors found themselves in a 13-0 hole right from the get-go. It took Golden State almost five minutes to break the silence, and by midway through the second quarter, the Timberwolves had already built a 22-point lead.
While Curry battles a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, the Warriors' offense has faltered, struggling to maintain a consistent rhythm without their shooting maestro. The team's young guns like Jonathan Kuminga did their best, but even their impressive performances couldn't fill the void left by Curry's absence.
"We made a spirited run, got it to seven, and then we just kind of lost a little bit of composure," Warriors coach Steve Kerr shared with Reuters, hinting at the team's wobbly defense.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves relished the opportunity to exert pressure on a Curry-less Warriors team. Star forward Julius Randle led the charge, scoring a game-high 24 points, also contributing seven rebounds, and dishing out 11 assists.
Rookie phenom Anthony Edwards, who was helped off the court with an ankle injury in the second quarter, returned to contribute an impressive 20 points. Nickeil Alexander-Walker also chipped in 20 points, ensuring that the Timberwolves maintained their momentum throughout the game.
For the Warriors, Kuminga remained their top scorer, racking up 18 points off the bench, while Jimmy Butler added 17 points. Trayce Jackson-Davis scored 15 points, providing valuable support as Kerr experimented with a 14-man rotation to address Curry's absence.
The Warriors' medical team has revealed that Curry's recovery will be assessment-based, with a week's timeline being the earliest possible return date for Game 5. However, with the series now heading to San Francisco for Game 3 on Saturday, the Warriors' chances of clawing back into the competition hang precariously in the balance.
"Part of the game plan coming in was to play a lot of people, and we did. We have to figure out what we're going to be able to do in this series without Steph," Kerr admitted to the NBA. "We've got to figure out rotations and who we start, but they're going to be a part of it. We've got to find some better ways to score."
The team's struggles against the Timberwolves without Curry have underscored the profound significance he holds in their offensive strategy. With Curry out, the Warriors face a steep challenge to turn their series around, and the prospect of elimination looms large.
In the absence of Steph Curry, the Warriors' offense has been struggling to maintain a consistent rhythm, relying heavily on their young guns like Jonathan Kuminga. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves savored the opportunity to put pressure on the Curry-less Warriors, with star forward Julius Randle leading the charge and Nickeil Alexander-Walker contributing 20 points.
