NBA Playoffs: Warriors Stun Timberwolves Without Curry as Finch Criticizes Edwards’ Effort
Despite missing Stephen Curry due to a hamstring strain, the Golden State Warriors opened their second-round series with a convincing 99–88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night. Buddy Hield and Draymond Green stepped up with hot shooting from beyond the arc, while Jimmy Butler delivered a well-rounded performance to help compensate for Curry’s absence.
Green praised the team’s collective effort, saying, “It was amazing to watch. Everybody who came into the game gave us something.”
Minnesota head coach Chris Finch, however, expressed disappointment—especially in star guard Anthony Edwards. He questioned Edwards’ leadership and energy after a sluggish first half.
"What's there to talk about here? You're the leader of the team," Finch said postgame. "You've got to come out and set the tone. Even if your shot isn’t falling, you've still got to carry the energy. If I have to talk to guys about the right energy in Game 1 of the second round, we’re not on the same page."
Edwards, who finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds on 9-of-22 shooting, defended his performance to an extent. “People will blame anyone—they can blame me,” he said. “We didn’t play well enough.”
The Wolves shot just 5-of-29 from three-point range and missed their first 16 attempts from deep. Nazz Reed ended that cold stretch with a three midway through the third quarter, but by then, the Warriors had built a 20-point lead. Reed added 19 points, and Julius Randle chipped in 16, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.
Golden State’s scoring was balanced in Curry’s absence. Hield continued his strong postseason run, scoring 24 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three. Green hit four threes in the first half for 18 points total, while Butler nearly posted a triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists.
“It’s about intensity, heart, and fight,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “If you bring that, you give yourself a chance.”
The Warriors used all 12 active players and relied on gritty defense to stifle Minnesota’s offense. Curry, who exited in the second quarter with a sprained left ankle, remains questionable for Game 2 on Thursday.
Elsewhere in the NBA Playoffs:
In a dramatic finish, Tyrese Haliburton hit a game-winning three with 1.1 seconds left to lift the Indiana Pacers over the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 120–119. The Pacers closed the game on an 8–0 run in the final 48 seconds to take a 2–0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Haliburton scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter. His missed free throw with seconds remaining led to his own offensive rebound and the eventual dagger three from the top of the arc. Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 48 points for the short-handed Cavs, who were without Evan Mobley, D’Andre Hunter, and Darius Garland.
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