The Minnesota Timberwolves crushed the Golden State Warriors, who were playing without Stephen Curry (left hamstring strain), by a 117-93 score on Thursday in Game 2 of their NBA second round Western Conference playoff series.
Anthony Edwards had 20 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals for a Minnesota team that never trailed. In fact, Minnesota jumped out to a 13-0 lead and even led by double digits for the final 40 minutes and 32 seconds of the game.
Edwards had to gut this one out after suffering a sprained left ankle in the second quarter, knocking him out for the last 5:56 of the first half. But he returned after halftime, starting the third quarter and propelling his team to victory.
Julius Randle added 24 points, 11 assists and seven boards. Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 20 points off the bench, and Jaden McDaniels was a menace on the defensive end with three steals and three blocks while also contributing 16 points.
Understandably, the Warriors struggled offensively without their top superstar and leading scorer. Golden State scored just 15 first-quarter points, and that put the Dubs in a hole they couldn’t dig out of all night. The Warriors also went cold from three (9-of-32).
Reserves Jonathan Kuminga (18 points) and Trayce Jackson-Davis (15 points) both provided sparks off the bench. In the starting lineup, Jimmy Butler (17 points, seven rebounds) led the way, with Buddy Hield scoring 15.
In the end, this was a huge victory for the Timberwolves after they fell 99-88 at home to Golden State in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series. Sure, they were heavy favorites in this one and did what they were supposed to do, but Minnesota also enjoyed the basketball equivalent of a first-round knockout here en route to an emphatic win.
Analysts and fans shouted out Edwards and the ‘Wolves.
Game 3 will take place in San Francisco’s Chase Center on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
