The Wolves dispatch the Warriors and travel back to the Western Conference Finals
The Minnesota team will be in the third round for the second consecutive season.
Although the series was mortally wounded when Stephen Curry was injured in Game 1, the only one Golden State won, and would miss the next four games, the Wolves deserve the credit they deserve. And that is a lot.
With their 121-110 victory over the Warriors, Minnesota will travel to the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive year, something that had never happened in the history of the franchise. They began the playoffs amidst the doubts left by the season, sixth place, scapegoats for the Lakers, and they survived. And then they defeated the Warriors, also favorites at the beginning, to have a second chance to play in the NBA Finals.
The Wolves have followed the script that’s been giving them success in the playoffs . More or less close games that come down to the wire, when they outperform their opponents and smother them on defense. Minnesota is a tremendously physical team, the closest thing to Oklahoma there is in the NBA, and, incidentally, they could face each other in the Western Conference finals.
Randle and Edwards
A Julius Randle, who is proving to be one of Minnesota‘s big discoveries in these Playoffs, led the attack with 29 points. His great 13 of 18 in field goals gives him much of the credit for the game. Anthony Edwards seconded him with 22 points and had 12 assists. Ant-Man is the sixth player in history to score 1,000 points in the Playoffs before turning 24, joining an illustrious group like Tony Parker, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, and LeBron James.
There was more to Minnesota, with a short rotation of just eight players. Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 8 rebounds, scoring more than usual. Mike Conley added 16, and Jaden McDaniels had 14. The Wolves shot 49 of 78 from the field (62.8%) and 13 of 31 from three (41.9%).
Without Curry, the Warriors ‘ offensive heart didn’t exist. One win with him and four losses since his injury is no coincidence. Brandin Podziemski did what he could, with 28 points, his career high in the playoffs. Jonathan Kuminga contributed 26. He’s been his team’s best scorer in this series, being the fifth player in minutes. And Jimmy Butler, more under the radar than expected, signed 17. But there were only 8 from Buddy Hield, from whom more was expected for a Warriors team that has lost four in a row in the playoffs for the first time since 1972. And now a somewhat uncertain future opens up for them.