The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Thursday night. Tipoff is set for 8:30PM ET at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Golden State holds a 1-0 lead after beating Minnesota 99-88 in the series opener.
Golden State is without Stephen Curry, who injured his left hamstring in Game 1 and is out for at least a week. Minnesota is looking to bounce back after a poor offensive showing on Tuesday. The Timberwolves lost home-court advantage and now need a win to avoid going down 2-0 before heading to San Francisco for Games 3 and 4.
Timberwolves Preview – Looking to Even the Series at Home
The Timberwolves went 49-33 in the regular season and earned the sixth seed in the West. They struggled offensively in Game 1, shooting just 41.1% from the field and 26.3% from three-point range. Minnesota fell behind by as many as 23 points and could not recover despite a strong second-half push.
Anthony Edwards had 23 points and 14 rebounds but scored just one point in the first half. He shot 9-of-22 from the field and made only one three-pointer. Minnesota needs a faster start and more efficient play from Edwards if they want to tie the series.
Julius Randle scored 18 points but pulled down only three rebounds in 30 minutes. Mike Conley and Donte DiVincenzo combined for zero points, going 0-for-9 from the field. The Timberwolves are 27-17 at home this year and ranked sixth in the NBA in scoring defense, allowing just 108.7 points per game. They’ve also been one of the league’s best fourth-quarter teams, hitting the 4Q moneyline in 43 of their last 59 games.
Warriors Preview – New Plan Without Curry
The Warriors pulled off a Game 1 road win but now face their first full game without Stephen Curry in this series. Curry scored 13 points in 13 minutes before hurting his hamstring in the second quarter. Golden State still managed to shoot 47.1% from the floor and built a big lead that held up late.
Buddy Hield led the way with 24 points while Jimmy Butler added 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists. Draymond Green had 18 points and 8 rebounds in 34 minutes. Brandin Podziemski struggled with just 3 points on 1-for-7 shooting, but the Warriors held Minnesota under 90 points.
The Warriors are 54-37 overall and went 27-19 on the road this season. They have an 8-3 playoff record in games without Curry since 2009. Coach Steve Kerr said the team will continue to run the offense through Jimmy Butler. Golden State has been strong in second halves, hitting the 2H moneyline in 18 of their last 24 road games. They’ve also covered the 4Q spread in 28 of their last 41 games.
Betting Prediction
Oddsmakers list the Timberwolves as 11.5-point favorites. The total is set at 204.0, one of the lowest of the postseason so far. Golden State is a +410 underdog on the moneyline, while Minnesota sits at -425 to win outright.
Without Curry, Golden State will lean more on Butler, Hield, and Green to carry the offense. Minnesota is expected to improve their shooting at home and push the tempo early. The Timberwolves have strong late-game trends and should benefit from being more rested. Expect Minnesota to win by double digits and even the series.
Pick: Timberwolves -11.5
