Warriors Face Timberwolves in Western Conference Semifinals

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The Golden State Warriors will play against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals, starting Wednesday night. The Warriors, seeded seventh, clinched their spot in this round with a dramatic Game 7 victory over the Houston Rockets on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves, seeded sixth, advanced by eliminating the Los Angeles Lakers in five games on Wednesday.

This matchup marks the first time these two teams have met in the playoffs. The Warriors won three out of the four regular-season games against the Timberwolves, although all those games occurred before the Warriors acquired guard Stephen Curry from the Rockets in February.

Fans will recognize Timberwolves star Jimmy Butler, who played for Minnesota and was an All-Star during the 2017-18 season. He has a storied history with the team, having been traded to the Miami Heat in November 2018 after a trade request.

As Game 1 unfolds, the Warriors face a critical situation after Curry sustained a hamstring strain in the second quarter. At the time of his exit, the Warriors were leading the game; however, they struggled in the offensive department without their star player. Curry managed to score 13 points in 13 minutes prior to the injury.

The Timberwolves have had a rough start to the game, missing their first 15 attempts from beyond the arc and seeing their star player, Anthony Edwards, signaled out for his inability to score, ending the first half with just one free throw.

As the game continues, the Warriors emphasize the need to maintain confidence despite Curry’s absence. “We’ll be all right,” Butler noted optimistically, as the team prepared for a potentially challenging series ahead. This Game 1 sets the stage for what could be an exciting series between these two competitive teams.