Timberwolves and Warriors Clash in Game 3 Playoff Showdown

San Francisco, California — The Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors meet Saturday for Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Western Conference Semifinals. The matchup comes after a thrilling split in the first two games, with the Warriors taking Game 1, 99-88, and the Timberwolves bouncing back with a commanding 117-93 victory in Game 2.

Golden State will be without star point guard Stephen Curry, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury. During the regular season, the Warriors managed to defeat the Timberwolves in three out of four meetings. The game is set for an 8:30 p.m. ET tipoff at the Chase Center.

As the game approaches, Minnesota is favored by 5.5 points, with the total points projected at 200.5. According to the SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, the model has shown impressive results, returning over $10,000 in profit for $100 players over the last six seasons.

In particular, Jimmy Butler has stepped up in Curry’s absence. He currently leads the Timberwolves in both rebounds and assists for the playoff season, averaging 18.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. In Game 1, he significantly contributed with a double-double, scoring 20 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

Golden State’s success without Curry relies heavily on players like guard Buddy Hield, who is known for his shooting ability. Hield averages 12.8 points per game, making 45.8% of his three-point attempts and having scored 15 points in his last game.

On the other side, Minnesota’s Julius Randle also shined in Game 2, leading his team with 24 points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists. This playoff season, he averages 22.1 points, 5.6 assists, and 5.1 rebounds.

As the playoffs continue, SportsLine’s model projects a total of 205 combined points and indicates one side of the spread has a better than 50% chance of hitting. Fans eagerly await to see which team will take the upper hand in an intense playoff battle.