Freshly arrived from Houston, the Warriors take the best start and a 3-point from Brandin Podziemski gives them 7 points ahead (13-6). Despite an Anthony Edwards (23 points, 14 rebounds) silent and Wolves at 0/8 from afar, it is the trio Rudy Gobert (9 points, 11 rebounds) – Julius Randle (18 points) – Jaden McDaniels who takes things in hand near the circle. The Frenchman takes 3 offensive rebounds and scores 6 points to launch a 14-5 (20-18).
Hard blow for Warriors, dry breakdown for wolves
With a Stephen Curry already at eight points, the Warriors pass the second. The All-star leader adds five points in a row and Draymond Green is 4/4 by far to launch an 18-2 which puts the warriors at +14 (36-22)!
The only problem for Golden State, Stephen Curry, victim of an ischi alert of his left thigh, asks to go out and he will not come back into play.
The Wolves do not take advantage of it, however. They finish half-time with 31 points, at 0/15 to 3-point, and 9 lost balloons. With a small launchy launch marked, Anthony Edwards returned to the locker room at 0/8 on shots. Fortunately for Minnesota, the Warriors lose eight balloons in the second quarter and the gap is only 13 points at half-time (44-31).
Buddy Hield shows his nose
The trend of the first 24 minutes is confirmed from the start of the third quarter. Gary Payton II first, then Buddy Hield twice flies far away and an 11-4 puts Golden State at +20 (55-35)!
After sixteen failed at 3-point, Naz Reid (19 points) finally unlocks the Wolves counter. In the process and after ten consecutive failures, Anthony Edwards marks his first basket in the match, followed by a 2+1. The Minnesota star finally finds his rhythm by attacking the circle and the Wolves return to -13 (66-53).
In the hard time, a 3-point prayer from Jimmy Butler who returns with the opposite board completely the trend. The Warriors continue with an interception, a 3-point from Buddy Hield, and a Pat Spencer lay-up. The 16 Buddy Hield points in third quarter allow Golden State to drive the nail and go back to +20 (80-60).
Naz Reid, Rudy Gobert, and Anthony Edwards valiant but too short
Back to the wall, the wolves do not abode. While Jimmy Butler refuses the shots on the other side, Naz Reid scores the first eight points of his team and Force Steve Kerr to take a time. Rudy Gobert, omnipresent in the offensive rebound, and Anthony Edwards sinking the nail and Minnesota passes a 13-2 to their opponents to reduce their delay by half (85-76).
-With Draymond Green with five faults, the Wolves are missing the mark. Kevon Looney holds the barrack against Gobert, and after five minutes without making the slightest basket, the duo Hield-Butler gives a big airline in the Warriors (90-76).
With less than four minutes to play, Minnesota tries everything for everything. Five points of Full of Anthony Edwards puts the Wolves at -9 but Gary Payton II and Buddy Hield respond to him at 3 -point. Three defensive stops in a row confirm the victory in the Golden State panache, which resumes the advantage of the field.
It is the first time in the history of the NBA that the four visiting teams each win Game 1!
What to remember
– What absence for Stephen Curry? In a first one-time half-time, the Warriors, however, suffered the worst possible blow possible. After scoring 13 points in 13 minutes of play, Stephen Curry caught his leg and left his partners. The first diagnosis is an elongation of the hamstrings of his left leg, and he could miss at least two weeks …
-The first half-start-up half of Minnesota. The Wolves started this conference semi-final in the worst way. Embarrassed by the defensive pressure and the deliberately late Warriors, they completely foiled. They returned to the locker room with only 31 points and 0/15 to 3-point. They never managed to find their pace, also losing 9 balloons. It was their worst half of the season.
– The Warriors control the rebound. Minnesota’s size gave them a considerable advantage in the racket (+24), but it also had to help them win the battle of the rebound. And yet, the “little” Warriors managed to take 18 offensive rebounds, against 12 to their opponents, allowing them to play equal play in the second chances (13 points at 14). Wolves will have to correct the shot during Game 2.
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How to read the stats? Min = minutes; Shots = successful shots / tempted shots; 3pts = 3-point / 3-point attempted; LF = Successful free throws / tempted free throws; O = offensive rebound; D = defensive rebound; T = total rebounds; PD = assists; FTE: Personal faults; Int = interceptions; BP = lost bullets; CT: against; +/- = Differential points when the player is on the field; Pts = points; EVAL: evaluation of the player calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
