The Golden State Warriors secured a Game 1 victory on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves in their second-round playoff matchup. They managed this despite Stephen Curry being sidelined for most of the game due to injury. The win, a 99-88 triumph over the Wolves, required other players to elevate their performance, with Jimmy Butler and Buddy Hield stepping up significantly and combining for 44 points.
Both Butler and Hield were particularly effective in the second half of the game. Hield scored 22 of his total 24 points after halftime, while Butler contributed 14 of his 20 points during the final two quarters. Butler also delivered a comprehensive performance, tallying 11 rebounds, eight assists, and two steals.
Commenting on the standout play from his teammates, Draymond Green remarked, “`Robin turned into Batman – what do you call Buddy [Hield]? Alfred turned into Robin, and they just stepped up and it was great to witness.`”
Curry exited the game in the second quarter with what the Warriors later confirmed as a hamstring strain. The team is currently awaiting the results of MRI scans to assess the severity of Curry`s injury. Curry was observed grabbing his left hamstring after playing defense, briefly remaining on the court for one possession before signaling for a substitution. He was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the contest.
Recounting the incident, Green stated, “`I didn`t see the exact play, I just saw him grab his hamstring and limp slightly. I approached him as he walked toward the locker room and asked if he was okay. He responded `I`ll be back` and kept going,` Green shared. `We weren`t entirely sure what was happening for a period… when they finally confirmed it was a hamstring issue, it was a bit disheartening, but he had already done an excellent job helping us establish a comfortable lead.`”
With Curry unavailable and tasked with protecting a 10-point lead, the Warriors needed alternative offensive sources, which is precisely where Hield and Butler contributed. Golden State successfully withstood a fourth-quarter push from the Timberwolves, but now must prepare for the possibility of playing Game 2 and potentially subsequent games without Curry.
Given Curry`s uncertain status, the Warriors are still viewed as underdogs in the series. However, Green was quick to praise Butler following Game 1, reminding observers of his new teammate`s remarkable playoff history. Butler famously led the Heat to the NBA Finals on two occasions, first in 2020 as a No. 5 seed and again in 2023 as a No. 8 seed.
“We understand Jimmy`s capabilities; he`s proven he can carry a team, having taken one to the Finals twice,” Green asserted. “Therefore, we won`t panic. We will determine what playing without Curry entails. We are fortunate to have the best coaching staff in the NBA, and we trust they will put us in a favorable position and outline our offensive strategy should we need to proceed without him. Ultimately, we have complete confidence in the players on this roster to execute plays and make shots, and we know we have Jimmy, a player who can initiate that crucial first step.”
The expectation is clearly on Butler to step up his scoring, and the Warriors will likely require more than the 20 points he scored in Game 1 as the series continues. His track record demonstrates his ability to perform under pressure, which is exactly why the Warriors acquired `Playoff Jimmy`.
Jasper Hawthorne