Warriors Suffer Loss Without Curry in Game 2, Tied Series against Timberwolves at 1-1
In Minneapolis, the Minnesota Timberwolves were nursing their dissatisfaction with their rocky start in Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors, a feeling coach Chris Finch was delighted to see.
Julius Randle notched 24 points and 11 assists in the Timberwolves' 117-93 triumph on Thursday, tying the Western Conference semifinals at 1-1. The team capitalized on Stephen Curry's absence due to a Grade 1 left hamstring strain that will likely keep him sidelined until at least the upcoming week.
The groundwork was laid during a testy film session with Finch and his staff the day prior. Randle commented, "He wasn't happy, and he let us know it, and we felt it. We were pretty motivated as a team."
Anthony Edwards tallied 20 points following an injury scare for the Wolves, who significantly boosted their 3-point output (16 out of 37) compared to their Game 1 loss when Curry was out.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 20 points to spearhead an excellent bench performance, teaming up with Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid to convert 10 out of 22 three-pointers. Finch remarked, "We looked a lot more like ourselves."
The Warriors, led by Jonathan Kuminga (18 points) and Trayce Jackson-Davis (15), struggled offensively without Curry. Kerr adopted a make-do strategy, giving 14 players court time. Butler acknowledged, "I think the biggest lesson is not to start off in a hole like we did tonight, and the game might have been a bit different."
Kuminga, the seventh overall pick in the 2021 draft, was a shining light off the bench. However, the Warriors' offense, already struggling with a fully healthy Curry, struggled noticeably without him.
Against the Wolves' athletic, long, and versatile defense, the Warriors found few options to lean on. Without Curry to bother, the Wolves had an easier time silencing shooters Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski.
The Warriors posted their lowest first-quarter score (15) in the playoffs since the 2016 NBA Finals, as per Sportradar, scoring just 11 against Cleveland in Game 6.
Draymond Green picked up his fifth technical foul of the playoffs, two away from an automatic one-game suspension, after elbowing Naz Reid following Reid's foul on Green.
[References:[1] AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA[2] Stephen Curry Injury Update: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34726319/stephen-curry-to-miss-minnesota-timberwolves-game-1-with-left-hamstring-strain]
- Toronto sports news highlighted a health concern for the Minnesota Timberwolves, as Anthony Edwards faced an injury scare during their game.
- Despite this, Julius Randle and a versatile team defense helped the Timberwolves boost their 3-point output and capitalize on Stephen Curry's absence due to a hamstring strain.
- In the absence of their star player, the Warriors struggled against the Timberwolves' defense, with shooters Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski finding it harder to score.
- The Warriors' offensive struggles were evident during the first quarter against the Timberwolves, as they posted their lowest first-quarter score in the playoffs since the 2016 NBA Finals.
- Draymond Green was issued a technical foul for elbowing Naz Reid, putting him two away from an automatic one-game suspension.
