The Minnesota Timberwolves unleashed a furious 23-5 run in the third quarter, overwhelming the Golden State Warriors to secure a 117-100 victory and take a 3-1 series lead in the NBA Western Conference Semifinals on May 12.
Golden State Warriors Top Performers:
Brandin Podziemski 11 PTS | 3 REB | 4 STL | 26.1 FPS
Podz has yet to find his offensive rhythm, shooting just 22.5% from the field and 17.6% from the perimeter in this series. Despite the slump, he continues to contribute in other areas, especially on defense. However, he needs to step up offensively in Game 5 for them to have a chance at extending the series—and possibly getting Curry back. That said, Podz has scored 11 points or fewer in nine of the eleven postseason games.
Jonathan Kuminga 23 PTS | 1 AST | 1 STL | 25.5 FPS
JK had a strong start today, scoring 8 points in the first quarter and stringing together three straight solid scoring performances. While he wasn’t as efficient as in the first two games, his aggressiveness paid off getting him to the line often, where he took full advantage, going 11-for-12. JK has surprisingly become the Warriors’ best scoring option since Curry got hurt, and they’ll need him to keep producing points if they hope to win another game.
Draymond Green 14 PTS | 7 REB | 2 AST | 23.4 FPS
Green took on a bigger scoring role, putting up the most shots on the team. While he’s not usually very effective, he still finished with his third double-digit performance of this postseason. He also remained dependable in rebounding but was quieter in playmaking and defensive stats. While much of his impact doesn’t show up on the stat sheet, the team will need as much as they can get from Green if they want to force another game.
Buddy Hield 13 PTS | 4 REB | 2 STL | 21.3 FPS
Hield has remained a dependable contributor on offense even without Curry, averaging 14 points over the last three games. He’s also been a legitimate threat from three in the first three games, averaging four makes. While he struggled today, he should be able to bounce back in Game 5. He’s been performing a lot better on the road lately, with his 24-point game against the Wolves and his 33-point performance against the Rockets both coming in away games.
Kevon Looney 8 PTS | 3-5 FG | 8 REB | 17.6 FPS
Looney provided a big impact for his position, almost finishing with a double-double just in the first half. But he didn’t get much minutes rest of the game and was unable to add more. Despite that, it’s his second straight solid performance on the defensive end, proving that he can hold his own against the length and athleticism of the Wolves.
Minnesota Timberwolves Top Performers:
Anthony Edwards 30 PTS | 4 REB | 5 AST | 45.3 FPS
Edwards did all of his damage in just three quarters, particularly in the third where he went off for 16 points to help put his team ahead by 20 points. He’s been on fire in the last two games, with two straight 30-point performances. His perimeter shooting has been the game-changer hitting at least 5 threes in his last two and his fourth time in this postseason. With his consistent performance, he’s now a win away from back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances.
Julius Randle 31 PTS | 5 REB | 3 AST | 43.5 FPS
Randle delivered another big performance, finishing with the best scoring game of his playoff career. He’s been on a tear offensively, recording at least 22 points in seven of his last eight games. He was also more effective today, hitting four threes after going 2-for-13 in the first three games and has shot nearly perfect 21-for-22 at the freethrow line in the series. With his momentum, the Wolves should be in a strong position to win Game 5.
Jaden McDaniels 10 PTS | 13 REB | 1 BLK | 33.6 FPS
McDaniels has maintained solid impact in this series. Offensively, he’s been reliable, finishing with his fourth straight game with double-digit points while shooting at 50% or better. He also took his performance further inside the paint, recording his second double-digit rebounding game in this playoffs. His defense remains strong too, averaging 4 stocks in the last three games. The Wolves should continue to win, if he maintains this strong two-way impact.
Mike Conley 11 PTS | 3 REB | 5 AST | 22.1 FPS
Conley has struggled offensively this series, shooting just 25% over four games. However, he has remained productive as a playmaker and contributed in ways that go beyond the box score. That said, he should continue to play a significant role in the rotation moving forward.
Naz Reid 5 PTS | 3 STL | 1 BLK | 15.9 FPS
Reid wasn’t at his best offensively in his last three games. While he also finished with his lowest scoring output today, he was able to compensate with solid defensive stats. With his size and versatility, he should continue to be a good contributor in Game 5.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Jimmy Butler 14 PTS | 6 REB | 3 AST |
Butler failed to step up in this crucial game, finishing with his lowest output in the major categories in four games in this series. He was also very passive on offense, attempting just 9 shots—a significant drop from his 33-point performance in their previous loss. The team will need him to replicate his Game 3 form if they hope to avoid elimination.
