Timberwolves Dominate Warriors to even series in Game 2

    Written by: Miles Jordan •

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    Julius Randle's 24 points and 11 assists led the way to the Timberwolves' victory

    Fueled by frustration from their Game 1 loss, the Minnesota Timberwolves responded with force Thursday night, routing the short-handed Golden State Warriors 117-93 to even the Western Conference semifinals at one game apiece.

    Julius Randle led the way with 24 points and 11 assists, while Anthony Edwards added 20 points despite a brief injury scare.

    Minnesota hit 16 three-pointers — more than triple their Game 1 total — and capitalized on the absence of Warriors star Stephen Curry, who missed the game with a left hamstring strain.

    “He was unhappy, and he let us know he was unhappy, and we felt that,” Randle said of head coach Chris Finch after a tough film session the previous day. “We were pretty motivated as a team.”

    Nickeil Alexander-Walker chipped in 20 points off the bench, combining with Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid for a 10-for-22 mark from beyond the arc. The Wolves’ defensive length stifled Golden State, who managed just 15 first-quarter points — their lowest playoff total in an opening frame since the 2016 NBA Finals.

    Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga (18 points) and Trayce Jackson-Davis (15) were bright spots, shooting a combined 14-for-17. But with Curry sidelined, the Warriors struggled to generate offense, and head coach Steve Kerr experimented with 14 different players.

    “We have to figure out what we’re going to be able to do in this series without Steph,” Kerr said. “So we gave a lot of people a lot of chances, and some guys really stepped up.”

    The Warriors also dealt with discipline issues, as Draymond Green picked up his fifth technical foul of the postseason after elbowing Naz Reid — putting him two away from an automatic suspension.

    Game 3 shifts to San Francisco, where the Warriors will hope for Curry’s return and a much-needed spark.

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