Instant Analysis: Warriors Take Control Of The Series In A Statement Victory Over Timberwolves

It was a critical night at the Target Center on Tuesday as the Golden State Warriors fought for an early lead in their ongoing series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Fresh off a dominant first round, fans expected an elite performance from the Wolves, but they were held to just 88 points tonight in an amysmal shooting display.

In the second quarter, Minnesota scored just 11 points while allowing 26 on the other end. With a 13-point lead at halftime, the Warriors were on cruise control for the entire night, and that's even after losing Stephen Curry, who was ruled out for the game after 12 minutes with a hamstring strain.

The leading scorer in Game 1 for the Warriors was not Curry, but instead Buddy Hield, who finished with 24 points, eight rebounds, and three assists on 62/.5% shooting from three. Jimmy Butler III dropped 20 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, and two steals on 35.0% shooting. At center, Draymond Green tallied 18 points, eight rebounds, and six assists on 46.2% shooting.

Meanwhile, for the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards contributed 23 points, 14 rebounds, and two assists on 40.9% shooting. Julius Randle totaled 18 points, three rebounds, and six assists on 36.4% shooting. Off the bench, Naz Reid contributed 19 points, five rebounds, and one assist on 57.1% shooting.

Tonight's win in Minneapolis marks the first time in NBA history that all four road teams have won Game 1 of the Conference Semifinals, and it suggests that there will be a historically competitive path to round three. Still, whatever lies ahead, the Warriors can take some pride in their latest victory, knowing that they still have three more games left to play at the Chase Center.

Offensive Struggles For Timberwolves

The Timberwolves are a defensive-first team, but they still need more than 88 points to beat the Golden State Warriors. In Game 1, they shot 39.5% from the field and a measly 17.2% (5-29) from three. Since Game 5 against the Lakers, Minnesota is 12-76 on threes, which is the worst efficiency in NBA playoff history over a two-game span. 

Whether it's fatigue or just a poor shooting slump, points are not coming easily for the Timberwolves right now, and it seems like Anthony Edwards is the only player generating offense for the team. He was the only player on his team to cross 20 points tonight in the 11-point loss.

With a full roster and a few days of rest, this is not the performance Wolves fans were hoping for. Not only were they missing shots, but the players were committing careless turnovers, racking up 16 in total, which translated into easy points for Golden State.

Buddy Hield Legacy Game

The Warriors were building solid momentum in the first half before their leading star,  Stephen Curry, went down with an injury. Curry did not return to the game after just 13 minutes played, but someone else stepped up in his absence to power the Warriors to victory: Buddy Hield.

Hield, 32, was traded from the 76ers to the Warriors in a six-team deal back in 2024. His play has been mostly up and down over the years, but tonight he delivered one of his best games yet at a critical moment. In the wake of Curry's absence, Hield went on to become the game's leading scorer with 24 points, eight rebounds, and three assists on 36.8% shooting.

If Buddy can sustain this play through the rest of the series, the Warriors are well-positioned to make a run to the West Finals. Even if not, Hield essentially won a game for the Warriors, and his shooting will continue to force pressure on the Timberwolves, whether he's making his shots or not.

26 Assists For Golden State

For a team that used to be so reliant on Stephen Curry, the Warriors didn't break a sweat when he left midway through the second quarter. He built a 10-point lead for Golden State, and they managed to widen the gap with a balanced scoring effort.

With 26 assists, the Warriors were in synch with the passing, and the offense hit a steady rhythm as Minnesota struggled to shoot. In the frontcourt, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green operated as the main orchestrators, and they combined for 14 assists by hitting up their open teammates all night long.

With or without Stephen Curry, the Warriors have options when it comes to running the offense, and tonight they thrived with their other stars calling the shots. With 42.9% shooting from three and just 12 turnovers as a team, the Warriors cruised to victory and set the tone early in the series.

Ahead of Thursday's rematch in the Target Center, the Warriors are going to be monitoring the health of Stephen Curry and determining the best course of action for his recovery and availability for the rest of the series. Based on tonight, we have good reason to believe the Warriors can win another game or two without him, but they will not get too far if he's compromised in any way this postseason. For now, the Warriors will take any win they can get as they fight to avoid an early playoff exit.