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MINNEAPOLIS—Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch admitted it was a bit “unusual” for his team to spend a few days in limbo, uncertain about their opponent in the Western Conference semifinals.
After all, the Timberwolves had wrapped up their first-round series against the Lakers in just five games, while the matchup between the Rockets and Warriors stretched to seven before Golden State secured their place on Saturday night.
Such uncertainty can often be unsettling, and it appeared that many fans at Target Center on Tuesday were caught off guard. They seemed unfamiliar with the home team.
The Timberwolves who had sent the favored Lakers, featuring stars like Luka Dončič and LeBron James, packing were nowhere to be found in Game 1. They faced Stephen Curry, the Warriors’ sharp-shooter, for a mere 13 minutes—and even that was more than enough, as the Warriors triumphed 99-88.
Despite ranking third in offensive efficiency during the first round and eighth throughout the regular season, the Timberwolves struggled to score. Their total of 88 not only marked a seasonal low but also represented the fewest points they had managed in 109 games over the past 13 months, dating back to last spring.
In contrast, Golden State showcased their resilience by thriving without their key player for a significant portion of the game, demonstrating more than just survival.
Here are five observations that have the Warriors feeling confident and have given them a home-court advantage heading into Game 2 (Thursday at 8:30 ET on TNT):
Early in the second quarter, the Warriors’ crafty guard was seen grabbing at his left hamstring. He completed a pass to Draymond Green for one of Green’s four unexpected three-pointers before heading straight to the locker room under the watchful eye of a Warriors trainer.
Curry’s hamstring strain ultimately did what the Timberwolves were still trying to figure out—it sidelined him. In 13 minutes, he recorded 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including three three-pointers, contributing to a plus-10 rating. He helped the Warriors jump to a 30-20 lead and initiated a 15-0 run to start the quarter, after which they never fell behind.
Things got worse for the Timberwolves before they showed any signs of improvement. They found themselves down 76-53 late in the third and had to exert considerable effort in the fourth just to close the gap to single digits. This happened four times and lasted a total of 79 seconds.
Buddy Hield, the Warriors’ hero from Game 7 against the Rockets, was on fire, knocking down five of eight from beyond the arc to finish with 24 points (after mistakenly arriving at tip-off in the wrong shorts). It was also a bonus for Golden State to have Green scoring in double digits—he had 18—as Jimmy Butler slowed their offense down toward the end to run down the clock against the Timberwolves.
With games scheduled every other day until a potential Game 6, Curry’s recovery will be a focal point. He left the arena limping and was set to undergo an MRI on Wednesday. Nevertheless, there was no hint of desperation in the Warriors’ performance during the opener.
Curry’s status remains day to day, but coach Steve Kerr has indicated it’s improbable that he’ll take the court for Game 2 on Thursday.
While the NBA and its networks promoted this series, Minnesota’s side of the marketing spotlight was on Anthony Edwards, their dynamic, three-time All-Star known for his sharp smile and explosive vertical. However, in this game, he was essentially absent—not only statistically but also in terms of energy and leadership.
Finch noted, “It begins with ‘Ant’; he struggled early and it was clear he lost his spark for a while. I think he came in with a fixed mindset about how the game should go.”
Edwards missed his first ten shots and didn’t score until four minutes had passed in the second half. Was there nobody to give him a motivational nudge along the way?
“What’s there to discuss?” Finch replied. “As a team leader, you need to set the tone in every aspect even when your shots aren’t falling; you still have to bring the energy.”
The shooting guard, who had averaged 26.8 points against the Lakers, scored 22 of his total 23 points in the final 20 minutes, but by that point, the team had already lost control of the game. Interestingly, he disagreed with his coach’s assessment.
“Nah, I felt like I played excellent defense,” he said. “I just need to improve on offense.”
In today’s NBA, missing multiple three-point attempts rarely puts a team off from continuing to shoot. There’s a strategy behind maintaining that approach, grounded in confidence from previous successes and a belief in statistical average returning.
However, the tension and frustration among home crowds can become palpable, especially following missed attempts. It was one thing for Minnesota to shoot 7-for-47 from beyond the arc in their decisive win over the Lakers; quite another to miss all 16 attempts while Golden State was building a 20-point lead.
Seven misses out of 63 attempts finally ended when Naz Reid sunk one at 8:32 of the third to bring the score to 55-38, but it was a case of too little, too late. Minnesota managed to hit five of their last 13 attempts from three-point range in a futile comeback effort. While both teams finished with 34 field goals, Golden State easily outpaced the Timberwolves with 18 three-pointers to their five.
Donte DiVincenzo looked despondent as the third quarter concluded; his last-ditch attempt from the far side missed badly as the buzzer sounded, leaving him slumped as he trudged to the bench.
But a spark seemed to ignite in him at the start of the fourth quarter. After being called for an offensive foul by referee Bill Kennedy, he objected, only to be penalized again six seconds later as he pressured during Warriors’ inbounds.
That little moment of frustration appeared to fuel him, as Minnesota rallied for a 13-2 run that narrowed the gap to nine. Unfortunately, time was slipping away, and Butler ensured Golden State slowed the tempo, while their eight offensive rebounds in the quarter allowed for extended possessions.
Despite the Timberwolves lagging, Golden State executed a strong defensive game. Their zone defense challenged Minnesota’s shooters and held firm. In the final 36 minutes, the Warriors dominated the boards, outrebounding their opponents 39-25, and forcing Minnesota into 16 turnovers—a recurring issue from earlier in the season. Significantly, Golden State limited Minnesota to just 11 points in a crucial second quarter.
Finch had anticipated this from his pre-game analysis.
“These guys excel at pressuring and crowding you in the paint,” the Timberwolves coach stated. “They challenge you deep in the paint around the rim, take charges, and there’s always traffic. Their competitiveness on the ball is top-notch. You need to make an early move against them.”
Unfortunately for the Timberwolves, they did not respond until it was too late.
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Steve Aschburner has covered the NBA since 1980. You can reach him via email, explore his archives, and follow him on X.
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