The Minnesota Timberwolves return home to Target Center on Wednesday night to take on the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30PM ET. Minnesota leads the series 3-1 and can close it out with a win on their home floor.
Golden State won Game 1 but has dropped three straight games since losing Stephen Curry to a hamstring injury. Curry will miss his fourth straight game, and the Warriors are struggling to find answers without their top scorer and playmaker. Minnesota won Game 4 on the road, 117-110, behind strong showings from Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle.
Timberwolves Preview – One Win Away from the Conference Finals
Minnesota finished sixth in the West with a 49-33 record and are now one win away from their second straight trip to the Western Conference Finals. They are 28-17 at home this season and have already won two games at home in this series. Anthony Edwards leads the team in scoring during the playoffs with 27.3 points per game.
In Game 4, Edwards had 30 points and 5 assists while shooting 11-for-21 from the field. Julius Randle added 31 points and continues to score consistently in the mid-post and transition. Mike Conley and Jaden McDaniels round out a strong backcourt and wing group, giving Minnesota solid play on both ends.
Defensively, the Timberwolves rank sixth in points allowed and seventh in opponent field goal percentage. Rudy Gobert helps anchor the defense and gives them size inside. Minnesota has hit the team total over in 36 of their last 55 games and has been solid in the second half, often pulling away late in games.
Warriors Preview – Struggling Without Curry
Golden State went 48-33 in the regular season and entered the playoffs as the No. 7 seed. They are 27-20 on the road this year but are now in a tough spot down 3-1 without Stephen Curry. His absence has forced the rest of the team to take on larger offensive roles, but the results have been mixed.
Jimmy Butler leads the team with 21 points per game in the series, including 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting in Game 4. Draymond Green had 14 points and 7 rebounds in the last game, while rookie Brandin Podziemski struggled with 3-of-14 shooting. The offense lacks spacing, and outside shooting has taken a big hit.
Golden State has not been able to get consistent offense in the second half. They are also near the bottom in team field goal percentage at 44.9% and are missing the ball movement that Curry creates. The Warriors have hit the 2H game total under in 26 of their last 40 away games and are big underdogs in Game 5.
Betting Prediction
Minnesota is listed as an 11.5-point favorite with the total set at 203.5. The Timberwolves have covered the 4Q spread in 41 of their last 62 games and hit the team total over in most of their recent home wins. Golden State has covered well late in games, but without Curry, they’ve been unable to maintain scoring pressure for four quarters.
The Timberwolves have the better team right now, and they’re healthy. Edwards and Randle are scoring with ease, and Gobert gives them defense at the rim. Golden State is unlikely to keep up on the road, and Minnesota should control the game early and close the series. The spread is large, but the Timberwolves have the edge across the board.
Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves -11.5
