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The Minnesota Timberwolves exploited the injury absence of Stephen Curry (29) to beat the Golden State Warriors 114-108 on Wednesday, leveling their Western Conference semifinal series at 1-1. A visibly hobbled Curry watched on from the bench, hampered by a sprained ankle he sustained late in Game 1, as the Timberwolves dominated the Warriors on their home court. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 27 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 20 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota. Klay Thompson paced the Warriors with 30 points. Jonathan Kuminga chipped in with 22 points for Golden State. Anthony Edwards was the driving force for the Timberwolves, scoring 16 points in the second half to seal the victory. Rudy Gobert dominated the defensive end with 17 rebounds and 3 blocks for Minnesota. The Warriors struggled offensively without Curry, shooting just 42.7% from the field. "We watched film after a dismal offensive display in their building," said Timberwolves coach Chris Finch. "We knew we had to be better."
"We watched film yesterday and we saw it wasn't just X's and O's," said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. "It was defensive effort and intensity. We didn't bring it. So we knew we had to bring it today," added Kerr. With Jordan Poole taking to the floor without Curry, who suffered a hamstring injury in Game 1, Minnesota seized the opportunity. They jumped out to an early 15-2 lead that left the Warriors chasing the game. Golden State briefly regained the lead in the second quarter with an emphatic 16-0 run, but Minnesota responded and entered halftime with a narrow 57-55 lead.
The third quarter proved crucial for the Timberwolves, as Minnesota outscored the Warriors 32-27, led by Edwards' aggressive drives to the basket. Butler and Kuminga both grabbed eight points apiece in the third quarter, but the Timberwolves maintained their lead and entered the final period with a 89-82 advantage they never relinquished. The Timberwolves displayed impressive poise and closed the game out effectively, securing a significant road victory to even the series. The Warriors sorely missed the steady three-point scoring threat of Curry, who Warriors coach Steve Kerr disclosed was close to playing but ultimately deemed not ready. His absence was keenly felt, with the Warriors struggling to find consistent offense throughout the game. Game Three of the best-of-seven series takes place in Minneapolis on Saturday.