Warriors secure Game 1 victory over Timberwolves, despite Stephen Curry's departure due to injury, under Jimmy Butler's leadership.
Rewritten Article:
Golden State stuns again with a stunning 99-88 win over the Timberwolves in Game 1, Minneapolis.
The Warriors, without their star player Steve Curry due to a hamstring injury, displayed some veteran savvy and unpredicted contributions to leave Minnesota grasping for air in the fourth quarter.
In his homecoming game, Jimmy Butler III scored 20 points amid relentless jeers from the crowd. Kevon Looney came off the bench and delivered a dominating presence in the paint, while Buddy Hield put up 18 points, starting the game in the wrong shorts.
Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 23 points.
The injury bug struck Curry again around the nine-minute mark in the second quarter, as he strained his left hammy while trying to catch a defensive rebound. Despite making a floater on the next play, the superstar guard was clearly hobbling, and coach Kerr decided to pull him from the game with 8:19 left in the half.
Later in the second quarter, Curry was ruled out for the game due to a left hamstring strain. He had managed to score 13 points in the same amount of minutes before exiting.
Draymond Green put on a defensive clinic and Buddy Hield knocked down timely shots, propelling the Warriors to an 80-60 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Wolves hit a momentum-shifting 16-5 run towards the end, cutting the deficit to just nine points with six minutes on the clock. However, Hield and Gary Payton II hit back-to-back treys and a Butler mid-range jumper to push the lead back to 90-76 with 5:18 remaining.
Edwards' and-1 layup sliced the deficit to nine points with three and a half minutes remaining, but Hield and Gary Payton II each knocked down 3-pointers to keep Minnesota at bay, securing the Warriors a 12-point lead with 2:11 left on the clock.
It was an impressive end to a game that was largely controlled by the Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors led by 13 at the break and expanded the lead to 27 points three minutes into the third quarter, thanks to a torrent of points, including two consecutive triples from Buddy Hield, the occasional class clown.
Minnesota's offense struggled mightily, earning a mere ovation from the Target Center crowd when Naz Reid finally sank their first 3-pointer after missing their initial 16 attempts in the first half.
The Wolves picked up the pace after the make, but despite Curry's absence, the Golden State attack kept rolling.
Pat Spencer gave the Warriors a much-needed boost off the bench, throwing down a running hook shot, picking off a few steals, and even grabbing an offensive rebound. The Warriors extended the lead to 76-53 with 2:23 left in the third quarter.
Minnesota had a clear height advantage, but the Warriors opted to counter with a barrage of 3-pointers and floaters. Green set the tone on the first possession when he drove right at Rudy Gobert and finished with a smooth floater.
Their offense faltered in the opening quarter, with the Warriors shooting a meager 7 for 22. Minnesota even had a 20-18 lead, despite Anthony Edwards missing all six of his shots in the first 12 minutes.
The Warriors responded with a 15-0 run at the start of the second quarter, starting their comeback.
Thanks to Draymond Green's hot hand – he went 4 of 6 from deep in the first half – and tight defense on Anthony Edwards, the Warriors led 44-31 at the half.
Edwards managed to score only a single point in the first half, going 0 for 8 from the field in 20 minutes. The 31 points allowed by Golden State were the fewest a post-shot clock opponent had scored in the playoffs since 1954, setting the tone for an impressive Warriors win.
Game 2 takes place on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. H.S.T. in Minnesota.
Key Insights:- Draymond Green's impact was crucial in the Warriors' victory, as he tallied 18 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals[2].- Jimmy Butler demonstrated his versatility and familiarity with the Timberwolves, scoring 20 points, dishing out 8 assists, and grabbing 11 rebounds[4].- The Warriors have a history of performing well without Curry in the playoffs, boasting an 8-3 record since Curry was drafted[5].
- In the shocking Game 1 win over the Timberwolves, the Warriors demonstrated their guile, producing unpredicted contributions despite the absence of their star player, Stephen Curry.
- The fewest points scored by a post-shot clock opponent in the playoffs since 1954 belonged to the Timberwolves, a testament to Draymond Green's stifling defense on Anthony Edwards.
- Despite the height advantage of Minnesota, the Warriors strategically opted for a barrage of 3-pointers and floaters instead, defying sports-analysis expectations.
- In a stunner of a game, Buddy Hield's timely shots and floater, as well as Gary Payton II's back-to-back treys, played a significant role in the Warriors' NBA sports victory against the Timberwolves.
