SAN FRANCISCO – Everything was in place for a gritty, improbable Warriors playoff win over visiting Minnesota at Chase Center on Saturday night.
With Steph Curry watching from the sidelines with a gimpy left hamstring that will keep him out till at least Game 6, Jimmy Butler scored 33 and pulled out a vintage takeover game befitting of his “Playoff Jimmy” mantle.
Jonathan Kuminga wowed with 30 points by using his overwhelming athleticism to play the perfect complement to his veteran teammate.
But it was not enough.
Wolves superstar Anthony Edwards scored 28 of his 36 points in the second half and Julius Randle had a 24-point triple double to hand the Warriors a gutting 102-97 loss and put Golden State in a 2-1 series hole.
After being the subject of racially-abusive heckling in Game 2, Draymond Green fouled out with 4:38 left in the game. He had two points, two rebounds, four assists and five turnovers, the Warriors defense collapsing without him.
The Warriors led going into the fourth quarter, but saw their lead evaporate with a 17-7 Wolves run to begin the quarter. With no Curry and Green down the stretch, Butler and Kuminga’s great nights went to waste.
Curry’s absence was felt early on, when Golden State attempted just one 3-pointer in the first quarter.
After another slow start to the second quarter, where it took until the 5:44 mark to reach double-digit points, the Warriors went on a 13-1 run to take a 42-40 lead with 41 seconds remaining.
The Timberwolves did not make a field goal over the last six and a half minutes of the half.
Kuminga successfully blasted to the rim when given the ball with space, scoring 12 in the half and giving the Warriors that two-point halftime advantage despite missing all five of their 3-point attempts.
The Warriors were 6 of 11 from distance in the third quarter, with Buddy Hield making three to complement Butler and Kuminga’s drives to the rim as Golden State led 73-69 after three quarters.
Golden State will look to even up the series against Minnesota at Chase Center on Monday.
