Warriors Overpower Wolves in Showdown
The golden strident-voicedSteph Curry, a superstar for the Golden State Warriors, missed Game 2 of their Western Conference playoff face-off against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a Grade 1 hamstring strain suffered in Game 1. His absence was palpable as the Timberwolves trounced the Warriors 117-93, evening the series at 1-1 in the NBA of 2025 (Philippine time).
Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 24 points and 11 assists, while Anthony Edwards and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 20 and 20 points, respectively. Jaden McDaniels chipped in 16 points for the victors.
On the Warriors' side, Jonathan Kuminga led the charge with 18 points, Jimmy Butler contributed 17 points, and Trayce Jackson-Davis and Buddy Hield netted 15 points each.
Edwards acknowledged that the injury to their star player weakened their defense, making it difficult for them to steal a win when Curry was out of action. "Yesterday, we watched film, and we noticed it wasn't just that we didn't make our shots, it was more so our defensive effort and intensity. We didn't bring it. So we knew we had to bring it today," Edwards told AFP.
The Timberwolves exploded to a strong start, leading 25-7 in the first quarter, and though the Warriors narrowed the gap to 62-55 in the third quarter, they failed to capitalize on the momentum and ultimately fell short. In the fourth quarter, the Timberwolves slammed the door shut, stretching their lead to 85-65, and the Warriors were unable to catch up.
With Curry's recovery uncertain, padding the Timberwolves' lead in this series would be crucial if they hope to snatch a win before Curry returns, which is estimated to be around Game 6. The Warriors are holding out hope that Curry will return before the series ends, but until then, they will have to rely on their other core players to step up and fill the void left by their injured star.
- The absence of Steph Curry, the superstar for the Golden State Warriors, due to a Grade 1 hamstring strain, was palpable in Game 2 of their NBA playoff match against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
- The Timberwolves, sensing an opportunity, exploited the situation and capitalized, with Julius Randle leading the charge with 24 points and 11 assists, Jaden McDaniels chipping in 16 points, and Anthony Edwards and Nickeil Alexander-Walker adding 20 points each.
- On the Warriors' side, Jonathan Kuminga led the team with 18 points, Jimmy Butler contributed 17 points, and Trayce Jackson-Jackson-Davis and Buddy Hield netted 15 points each, but it wasn't enough to counter the Timberwolves' offensive surge.
- With Curry's recovery still uncertain, the Timberwolves must continue to build on their lead, especially as they hope to secure a win before Curry returns, which is estimated to be around Game 6. The Warriors, for their part, are holding out hope that Curry will return before the series ends, but until then, they will have to rely on their other core players to step up and fill the void left by their injured star.
