Minnesota Bounces Back in Game 2 as Edwards, Randle Shine
After a shaky start to the Western Conference Semifinals, the Minnesota Timberwolves roared back in Game 2, where they trounced the Golden State Warriors 117-93. This was not a game; this was a statement. As homecourt pressure begins to build while Steph Curry is out due to a pulled hamstring, the Wolves took their chance to level up the series 1-1 before going to San Francisco.
Minnesota played with urgency, it was like a team with something to prove. They started the game on a 13-0 run and kept Golden State to just 2-for-12 shooting for the first quarter. They at one time led by 25 points, never falling behind in any way during this game.
We’ve got to figure out rotations and who we start, but they’re going to be a part of it,” Kerr said after his personnel experiment. “We’ve got to find some better ways to score.”
Julius Randle was the soul of this comeback. Anchoring the offense, he had 24 points, 7 and 11-assists, and 7 rebounds, and he maintained the high tempo. But Jaden McDaniels, who filled both spots on the floor equally, held Jimmy Butler to just 17 points while putting up 16 points of his own with three steals and three blocks, played a big part in the Wolves’ success as well.
In the meantime, fans held their breath in the second quarter when Jackson-Davis accidentally stepped on Anthony’s ankle, and he went down. It looked grim. Edwards was assisted off the floor and went into the locker room before halftime. But in the true spirit of a warrior, the 23-year-old came back and played his way to the finish line, adding 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Without Curry as a go-to, the Warriors looked for a rhythm. Coach Steve Kerr experimented with various rotations, inserting such rookies as Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson–Davis. To their credit, both scored. Kuminga made 18, while Jackson-Davis scored with everything he shot off the floor and chipped in 15 from outside as well. Even so, Golden State could not replace the figure left by their superstar.
Draymond Green also added to the Warriors’ worries, picking up another technical foul, putting him dangerously close to a suspension. His aggressive reactions, though common, might hurt the team more than help if they lead to a forced benching in a future game.
The Timberwolves also finally broke out of their three-point slump, hitting 16-of-37 from beyond the arc after setting a record-low percentage over their previous two games. This improvement could be the turning point in a series that many expected Golden State to control.
Now, as the scene shifts to the Chase Center in San Francisco for Game 3 on Saturday night, the Timberwolves have done more than just even the series—they’ve sent a message: they’re not backing down.
