Timberwolves beat Curry-less Warriors in Game 2 to even series

Minnesota Timberwolves pulled distant for a 117-93 triumph implicit the Golden State Warriors successful Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series.

The Minnesota Timberwolves were stewing implicit their unsmooth commencement successful Game 1 against Golden State, a absorption manager Chris Finch was pleased to see.

Julius Randle had 24 points and 11 assists to assistance the Timberwolves capitalise connected Warriors prima Stephen Curry’s lack successful a 117-93 triumph Thursday that tied the second-round bid astatine a crippled apiece.

The instauration was laid successful an ornery movie league with Finch and his unit the time before.

“He was unhappy, and helium fto america cognize helium was unhappy, and we felt that,” Randle said. “We were beauteous motivated arsenic a team.”

Anthony Edwards finished with 20 points aft an wounded scare for the Wolves, who much than tripled their 3-point output (going 16 for 37) from their Game 1 nonaccomplishment erstwhile Curry was sidelined by a near hamstring strain that apt volition support him retired astatine slightest until adjacent week.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 20 points to spearhead a superb show by the bench, combining with Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid to spell 10 for 22 from deep.

“We looked a batch much similar ourselves,” Finch said.

Minnesota Timberwolves guardant Julius Randle goes up for a changeable arsenic Golden State Warriors defender Buddy Hield tumbles [Abbie Parr/AP]

Jonathan Kuminga (18 points) and Trayce Jackson-Davis (15) combined to sprout 14 for 17 from the level for the Warriors. They took astir 5 minutes to score, yet breaking done down 13-0 connected Jimmy Butler’s 3-pointer.

With the NBA’s vocation starring 3-point shooter adjacent to him connected the bench, manager Steve Kerr utilized a kitchen-sink experimentation with 14 players getting time.

“But I would inactive similar to win,” Butler said. “The biggest acquisition is don’t commencement disconnected successful a spread similar we did tonight, and the crippled possibly could person ended up a small spot differently.”

Kuminga, the seventh wide prime successful the 2021 draught who dropped retired of the rotation astatine times during the regular play and missed important clip with a sprained close ankle, was a agleam spot disconnected the bench. But this Warriors squad was already bladed connected offence with a steadfast Curry.

“We person to fig retired what we’re going to beryllium capable to bash successful this bid without Steph,” Kerr said. “So we gave a batch of radical a batch of chances, and immoderate guys truly stepped up.”

Against the Wolves and their athletic, agelong and versatile defence, determination wasn’t overmuch to thin on. Without Curry to interest about, the Wolves had an easier clip keeping shooters Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski quiet.

The Warriors enactment up their lowest first-quarter people (15) successful the playoffs since Game 6 of the 2016 NBA Finals, according to Sportradar, erstwhile they had 11 successful a nonaccomplishment to Cleveland.

Draymond Green picked up his 5th method foul of the playoffs, 2 abbreviated of an automatic one-game suspension, for elbowing Naz Reid aft Reid had conscionable fouled him.

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