Timberwolves Beat Warriors Again to Take 3-1 Series Lead Without Curry
The Golden State Warriors are clearly missing star player Stephen Curry, as they suffered a 117-110 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals. This result gives Minnesota a strong 3-1 lead in the series, just one win away from reaching the conference finals for the second year in a row.
The Timberwolves, who lost Game 1, have now won three games in a row. Anthony Edwards scored 31 points while Julius Randle added 30, combining for 61 points to lead Minnesota’s attack. Jaden McDaniels recorded a double-double, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 13 points off the bench.
Jonathan Kuminga was the Warriors’ top scorer with 23 points, also coming off the bench. Jimmy Butler had a quiet night, scoring just 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting.
Minnesota’s Big Third Quarter Turns the Game
Golden State led 60-58 at half-time, helped by a strong 19-6 run in the second quarter. But Minnesota took control in the third quarter with a 17-0 scoring run, eventually outscoring the Warriors 39-17 in that period. The Warriors continued to struggle with three-point shooting, hitting only 5 of 19 shots from beyond the arc going into the final quarter.
The Timberwolves pushed their lead to 21 points early in the fourth. It looked like the Warriors were heading for one of their worst playoff defeats after leading at half-time since 1958. However, they showed some fight, going on a 10-2 run to reduce the gap to 13 points with under two minutes left. Golden State actually won the final quarter 33-20 but it wasn’t enough to close the gap.
Jimmy Butler’s off night hurt the Warriors’ offence, while Kuminga, who scored 16 points in the first half, couldn’t keep up his performance in the second. Draymond Green and Buddy Hield also scored in double figures, while Kevon Looney came close to a double-double off the bench.
The Warriors hit just 8 of 27 three-point attempts, compared to Minnesota’s impressive 47.1% from long range. While Golden State did better in the paint, outscoring the Wolves 54-42, their poor outside shooting allowed Minnesota to stay in control.
Game 5 will take place in Minneapolis on Wednesday, with the Warriors needing a win to stay in the series. Stephen Curry is also expected to be re-evaluated on the same day.
