The Golden State Warriors faced adversity early in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves — and they responded with grit, defense, and poise.
With Stephen Curry sidelined in the second quarter due to a left hamstring strain, the Warriors turned what could’ve been a crushing blow into a statement victory, taking down the Timberwolves 99-88 on the road Tuesday night.
Golden State’s suffocating first-half defense — holding Minnesota to just 31 points — set the tone for a win that could reshape the narrative of the series. If Curry’s injury lingers, this might be the blueprint the Warriors need to stay alive: defensive intensity, offensive balance, and timely leadership from unexpected sources.
Curry goes down, but the Warriors lock in
Curry’s injury occurred midway through the second quarter. The All-Star guard came up limping after a defensive possession, favoring his left leg. He briefly continued playing but clearly wasn’t moving right. After missing a floater on the next trip down the floor, Curry signaled to the bench and walked straight to the locker room, not returning.
He was ruled out by halftime with what the team called a strained left hamstring. Before exiting, Curry had racked up 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including three triples.
“He’s devastated,” said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr postgame. “But this team has been through the fire before. We rallied together and played our brand of basketball — aggressive, smart, and team-first.”
Kerr confirmed that Curry will undergo an MRI on Wednesday and is currently considered day-to-day. However, with just one rest day before Thursday’s Game 2, his availability appears unlikely.
Timberwolves freeze under pressure
Rather than capitalizing on Curry’s absence, the Timberwolves delivered one of their worst halves of the season. Minnesota managed only 11 points in the second quarter, missing all 15 of their 3-point attempts by halftime. Anthony Edwards, the team’s engine, was held scoreless until the second half, shooting 0-for-8 in the opening 24 minutes.
“I take that on me,” Edwards said after the game. “I’ve got to set the tone better. No excuses — we didn’t play our game until it was too late.”
Minnesota found some rhythm in the second half, outscoring the Warriors 57-50, but the damage was already done. Golden State never let the game slip, even as the Timberwolves cut the deficit to as little as seven early in the fourth quarter.
Hield, butler, and green step up
With Curry out, Buddy Hield took over the scoring load for the Warriors. He finished with 24 points and seven rebounds, knocking down five triples, including several that stalled Timberwolves runs.
Jimmy Butler, often the emotional leader, flirted with a triple-double — 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists — while also spearheading the team’s defensive effort.
“We miss Steph like crazy,” Butler said on TNT after the win. “But this was about heart. Defense. Pride. We didn’t fold — we rose up.”
Draymond Green added 18 points and 8 boards in a physical performance that gave the Warriors their edge when things got chippy.
Looking ahead
For Minnesota, Edwards led the second-half resurgence and finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds, while Naz Reid added 19 off the bench. Julius Randle chipped in 18. Still, the Timberwolves’ final tally from behind the arc — 5-of-29 — told the story of the night.
Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday night in Minneapolis, and with Curry’s status very much in doubt, the Timberwolves will be under pressure to respond — not just with effort, but execution.
“The margin for error is slim in the playoffs,” said Timberwolves coach Chris Finch. “We played three bad quarters. You don’t win that way in May.”
Whether or not Curry returns soon, the Warriors showed they’re not a one-man team. And if they keep defending like they did in Game 1, Minnesota may find themselves fighting more than just Golden State — they’ll be fighting the ghosts of a missed opportunity.
