Warriors Defeat Timberwolves Amid Curry’s Hamstring Injury

MINNEAPOLIS — The Golden State Warriors secured a pivotal 99-88 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series on Tuesday, despite losing star guard Stephen Curry to a hamstring injury in the second quarter.

Curry, who had scored 13 points in 13 minutes, was ruled out after sustaining the injury, a significant blow for Golden State. Buddy Hield stepped up, leading the Warriors with 24 points, including five three-pointers. Draymond Green also contributed, scoring 18 points with four three-pointers of his own.

The Warriors were in control when Curry exited, leading 30-20 after the first quarter. They maintained their lead, relying on a staunch defensive effort that limited Minnesota to just 39.5 percent shooting from the field.

Golden State’s win improved their series record to 21-1 in Game 1s under head coach Steve Kerr, who expressed sympathy for Curry’s injury. “I just feel so bad for him. Everything that he does. How much he cares,” Kerr said.

In contrast, the Timberwolves struggled offensively. Anthony Edwards, who finished the game with 23 points, was held to just one point in the first half and shot 0-for-10 before coming alive in the second. The team started the game by missing their first 16 three-point attempts and ended the night shooting just 5-for-29 from beyond the arc.

Jimmy Butler contributed with 20 points and 11 rebounds, falling just short of a triple-double. With Curry’s status uncertain for the remainder of the series, the Timberwolves will need to capitalize on any potential weaknesses from the Warriors if they wish to even the series in Game 2.

As the Warriors prepare for Game 2, which is scheduled for Thursday, the outlook remains unclear for Curry, who is officially listed as day-to-day. An MRI on his hamstring is expected to shed light on the severity of his injury.

Kerr publicly acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating, “We got one on the road, and then we do what we got to do,” highlighting the importance of teamwork in Curry’s absence.