Golden State made 0 of 5 three-pointers in the half! Curry was absent, Butler 33+7+7, the Warriors lost to the Timberwolves, and the score was 1-2

On May 11, Beijing time, the 2024-25 NBA playoffs Western Conference semifinals G3, the Warriors sat at home against the Timberwolves today, and Stephen Curry missed the game due to a first-degree hamstring strain in his left leg. In the end, the Warriors lost to the Timberwolves 97-102, and the series fell behind the Timberwolves 1-2.

Statistics

Warriors: Butler 33 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, Kuminga 30 points, Hield 14 points

Timberwolves: Edwards 36 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, Randle 24 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists and 3 steals, Gobert 9 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks, McDaniels 15 points and 6 rebounds

Background

Without Curry, the Warriors are a completely different team, and now everything revolves around finding a new system that minimizes the impact of Curry's absence. Despite losing the G2 series, it was a great opportunity for the Warriors to look at different lineups and rotations, and coach Kerr also said that he would work out a concrete plan for Game 3 that would satisfy everyone. The Timberwolves scored 24 points in their last game, and although star Edwards had a left ankle injury and only scored 20 points, Randle and Walker helped the team to a landslide victory. On the Timberwolves' advantage, Edwards is well injured and will be able to play in G3.

Game recap

Back at home, the Warriors changed their starting lineup again, but the opening was still suppressed by the aggressive Timberwolves, and the visitors fired back-to-back outside shots to get off to an 8-2 start. Jackson Davis, who was promoted to the starting lineup, twice hit the basket to help the Warriors tie the score at 8. However, the Warriors' offense has since been muted again, and the Timberwolves have taken the opportunity to launch a 13-4 offensive wave. At the critical moment, Butler stepped up and scored six points in a row, directing a wave of 9-0 counterattack climax, helping the Warriors tie the score at 21-21 at the end of the first quarter. In addition, the Warriors made 0 of 1 three-pointers in the first quarter, the lowest three-point shooting in a single quarter of the playoffs since 2013.

In the second quarter, Reed, Randle and McDaniels combined for four three-pointers, and after an 18-8 offensive run, the Timberwolves led 39-29. However, in the final six and a half minutes of the quarter, the Timberwolves did not score a single goal. The Warriors went on a 13-1 offensive surge to take a 42-40 lead at the end of the first half. It is worth mentioning that the Warriors made 0-of-5 three-pointers in the half, which was also the first time the team missed a three-pointer in a playoff half since 2007.

In the second half, Hield hit the Warriors' first three-pointer of the game with the assistance of Butler. Immediately after, Butler scored on a number of strong shots, and Hield and Kuminga's outside shots were also quite accurate. At the end of the third quarter, the Warriors led the Timberwolves 73-69. In the final quarter, the two sides alternately scored, 4 minutes and 38 seconds, Dream Chasing left the game with 6 fouls, Madan hit 2 free throws, and the Timberwolves led 86-82. A few rounds later, Gobert hit another 2+1 on Looney, and the Timberwolves extended their advantage to 7 points. At the critical moment, Hield's three-pointer helped the Warriors survive. But with Edwards' three-pointer and accurate free throws, the Timberwolves won the game.

Both sides start

Warriors: Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Buddy Hield, Tress Jackson Davis, Blandin Podzemski

Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley