Timberwolves Bring the Pressure as Warriors Fight to Stay Alive in Game Four
The Minnesota Timberwolves will remain on the road for Game Four on Monday, holding a 2-1 series lead over the Golden State Warriors. Minnesota secured a close 102-97 victory on Saturday, pulling away down the stretch. The Warriors have lost two straight since Stephen Curry was sidelined with an injury, a setback that’s clearly had an impact. Even head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the challenge, saying, “We are a completely different team without Curry.”
The duo of Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle has been hot this postseason, especially in the past two games. Randle followed up a near triple-double with a completed one, while Edwards erupted for 36 points in the last game, 28 of them coming in the second half to seal the win, totaling 79 points in the series. With Curry sidelined, the Warriors have leaned on Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga to shoulder the load. Kuminga has stepped up, scoring 48 points over the past two games after limited action in the first round against Houston. Meanwhile, Butler’s 70 points across three games haven’t been enough, particularly late in games, as Draymond Green has taken a step back since game one and even fouled out late in the most recent loss.
Golden State’s offense has struggled heavily this postseason. After averaging 113.8 points per game during the regular season, they’ve surpassed that mark just once in their 10 postseason games. Much of the offensive drop-off stems from the team’s depth. Brandin Podziemski has shot just six-of-26 in the series, while Green has gone four-of-14 over the past two games and committed seven turnovers. Moses Moody and Gary Payton II have seen limited minutes but have combined to shoot just one-for-15 in that span. The Warriors held the momentum for much of Game Three but couldn’t generate enough offense to keep pace in the fourth quarter, getting outscored 33–24. To be fair, Minnesota has one of the league’s top defenses, anchored by last year’s Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert and versatile wing defender Jaden McDaniels. As a team, the Timberwolves rank in the top 10 in opponent points per game, field goal percentage, three-point percentage, and overall defensive rating.
The upcoming Game Four between the Timberwolves and Warriors is pivotal in the series. Minnesota will look to ride the momentum of Anthony Edwards’ scoring surge and Julius Randle’s all-around impact for a chance to close the series at home in Game Five. On the other side, the Warriors will lean on Butler and Kuminga to carry the offensive load, while hoping for a quick, healthy return from Curry. Ultimately, offensive and late-game execution will be key. With both teams having considerable depth, Golden State needs theirs to step up to not fall into a 3-1 elimination game on the road.
