The Minnesota Timberwolves rallied behind a red-hot Anthony Edwards to snatch a 102-97 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, taking a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference second-round playoff series.
Edwards finished with 36 points, erupting for 28 in the second half—including 13 in the decisive fourth quarter—after a quiet start. “I stunk in the first half,” Edwards admitted. “But as long as you trust the work, keep shooting with confidence, you’ll be all right.”
The Warriors, playing without Stephen Curry due to a hamstring strain, led at halftime 42-40 after holding Minnesota scoreless for the final 6:29 of the second quarter and finishing the half on a 13-1 run. But their shooting woes—particularly from beyond the arc—left them vulnerable. Incredibly, Golden State didn’t hit a single three-pointer in the first half, a rare occurrence for the franchise since 2007.
Julius Randle was instrumental for Minnesota, notching a triple-double with 24 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds—his first in the playoffs. “He’s big time,” Edwards said of his teammate. “The way he’s finding people and getting us open looks, I can’t ask for nothing better.”
Despite Golden State’s strong defensive showing early, the Timberwolves surged in the second half with energy, hustle, and sharp execution. “Playing as a team, getting stops, and limiting them to one shot—that was the key,” said Edwards.
Jimmy Butler paced the Warriors in the first half with 18 points, but slowed down in the second. Jonathan Kuminga added energy off the bench, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Timberwolves’ late-game surge.
Game 4 is set for Monday in San Francisco, where the Warriors will look to level the series. But Edwards knows not to take the former champions lightly: “You can’t ever get too comfortable. This is a championship DNA team… so we’ve got to be ready at all times.”