Golden State Warriors Stun Timberwolves Without Curry, Complete Historic Road Sweep in Game 1
Posted 1 day 16 hours ago
Golden State Warriors pulled off a commanding 99-88 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Tuesday (May 6), capping off a historic sweep by all visiting teams across both NBA conference semifinals. The Warriors now lead the series 1-0, joining the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, and Indiana Pacers — the latter already up 2-0 after stealing two road games from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Remarkably, the Warriors managed the win despite losing Stephen Curry just four minutes into the second quarter due to a hamstring injury. Curry had already contributed 13 points in just 12 minutes, shooting 5-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-6 from three-point range.
His early exit could have derailed Golden State's momentum, but Buddy Hield stepped up in dramatic fashion to carry the offensive load.
Read More: https://www.esnnews.com/post/lakers-tie-series-vs-timberwolves-nba-playoffs-game-3-preview Hield, who had only two points in the first half, erupted for 22 in the second, including 14 in the third quarter.
He also grabbed eight rebounds and hit five of eight from deep, finishing with zero turnovers. Across the last two playoff games, Hield has now totaled 14 three-pointers without a single turnover — a record-setting feat unmatched in NBA postseason history.
Draymond Green delivered one of his most impactful playoff performances since 2018, tallying 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, while knocking down 4-of-10 from beyond the arc. Jimmy Butler added a near triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists in his first game back at the Target Center since his departure after the 2017-18 season.
On the Timberwolves side, the offense struggled heavily, particularly in the first half. Anthony Edwards was held scoreless on 10 field goal attempts through two quarters and ended the night with 23 points and 14 rebounds, albeit on 9-of-22 shooting.
Naz Reid led the fight with 19 points and made three of the team's only two three-point makes (3-of-7), as Minnesota finished an abysmal 2-of-22 from long range.
Read More: https://www.esnnews.com/post/draymond-green-finalist-2025-dpoy This marks the first time in NBA history that all visiting teams won Game 1 of the Conference Semifinals.
The series continues with Game 2 still at the Target Center in two days, where the Timberwolves will aim to bounce back from a rare and humbling home defeat.
