The Golden State Warriors went into Tuesday's Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves after just one day of rest, and their quick turnaround from a thrilling Game 7 win over the Houston Rockets did not have too much of an impact on them.
The Warriors picked up a huge win over the Timberwolves on Tuesday night to take a commanding 1-0 series lead, led by Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, and Buddy Hield in Steph Curry's absence.
Curry left Tuesday's game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury, finishing his night with 13 points through 13 minutes of action.
Steph Curry limps to the locker room in the second quarter. Looks like a left hamstring issue @NBCSWarriors pic.twitter.com/MRRISRBDSu
— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) May 7, 2025
Of course, when Curry left Game 1, many fans were worried about how the Warriors would perform in his absence, but the team stepped up in a huge way. After the win, Jimmy Butler talked about Curry's importance and how it felt with him out of the game.
"Big time. Big time for the guys," Butler said. "We want Steph back, I'll tell you that. It's hard playing without that man. Steph is our best player, and the game is much easier when we got him."
"That Steph is our best player, and the game is much easier when we've got him."
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 7, 2025
Jimmy tells @laurenjbara what he learned from the @warriors' Game 1 win pic.twitter.com/RSTnkNsuc7
Butler finished the game with 20 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals to help lead the Warriors to a win in Curry's absence, but the team will be in trouble if he has to miss more time. Golden State made the right call by holding him out of Tuesday's Game 1, but with Game 2 on Thursday, they will need him back on the court.
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