Minnesota Timberwolves overpower Golden State Warriors to level series at 1 1

LOS ANGELES – The Minnesota Timberwolves exploited the injury absence of Stephen Curry to defeat the Golden State Warriors 117-93 and level their National Basketball Association (NBA) Western Conference semi-final series on May 8.

A fired-up Timberwolves line-up, who had been stunned by the Warriors in Game 1 on May 6, were always in control as they powered to a wire-to-wire victory in Minneapolis that squares the series at 1-1.

Julius Randle led the scoring for Minnesota with 24 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, while Anthony Edwards finished with 20 points and nine rebounds.

Edwards said an improved defensive effort led to Minnesota’s win after a dismal offensive display in their Game 1 loss.

“We watched the film yesterday and we saw it wasn’t just that we didn’t make our shots – it was more so our defensive effort and intensity. We didn’t bring it. So we knew we had to bring it today,” Edwards said.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker added an eye-catching 20 points off the bench, including four three-pointers, on a night when five Timberwolves players finished in double figures. Jonathan Kuminga led the Warriors scoring with 18 points from the bench, Jimmy Butler ending with 17.

With Golden State taking to the floor without Curry, who suffered a hamstring injury in Game 1, Minnesota set the tone early in the first quarter, racing into a hefty 25-7 lead that left the Warriors chasing the game.

Said Timberwolves coach Chris Finch: “We looked a lot more like ourselves. Obviously, the start was great for us, that’s what we needed to set the tone. I thought we were pretty consistent with everything other than the beginning of the second half... It was exactly the response that we needed.”

Minnesota were given a scare when Edwards limped off with an ankle