The Golden State Warriors turned adversity into ammunition on Tuesday night, as Buddy Hield and Draymond Green led a spirited 99-88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals—just moments after superstar Stephen Curry exited with a hamstring strain.
Curry left early in the second quarter after hitting a mid-range jumper, immediately grabbing the back of his left leg.
Stephen Curry (left hamstring strain) will not return to tonight’s game.
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) May 7, 2025
The four-time NBA champion and the league’s all-time 3-point leader was ruled out for the remainder of the game shortly after, casting uncertainty over the Warriors’ playoff prospects.
But Hield, fresh off a career night in Game 7 against Houston, showed once again that he thrives under pressure. He poured in 24 points on 5-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc, picking up the offensive slack with calm confidence.
He even had a hilarious mix-up with wrong shorts, which led to a slight delay in the game.
Green added four first-half 3-pointers and finished with 18 points, providing crucial scoring from an unlikely source.
Jimmy Butler contributed across the board with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, while the Warriors rotated 12 players and clamped down defensively to stifle a Timberwolves side that never found rhythm from deep.
Minnesota missed its first 16 attempts from beyond the arc, only ending the drought after Naz Reid hit a triple with 8:32 left in the third quarter. By then, Golden State led by 20, and the Wolves never recovered.
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 23 points and 14 rebounds despite a sluggish start, but the team shot just 5-of-29 from three and trailed by as many as 23 points. Reid and Julius Randle added 19 and 16 points respectively.
With Game 2 scheduled for Thursday, all eyes will be on Curry’s status. But if Tuesday was any indication, the Warriors’ depth—and Hield’s rising playoff poise—may just keep their title hopes alive a little longer.
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