Jimmy Butler III #10 of the Golden State Warriors speaks with Gary Payton II #0 during the third quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Target Center on May 06, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. David Berding, Getty Images/AFP
LOS ANGELES -- The Golden State Warriors shrugged off a Stephen Curry injury to claim victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA playoffs on Tuesday.
The Warriors were forced to dig deep before battling to a 99-88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in their Western Conference semi-final series opener.
The Timberwolves had dismantled the third-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the previous round, but struggled to get to grips with a steely Golden State defense in a low-scoring contest at the Target Center.
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Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards had a rare off-night, sinking just one three-pointer in his 23-point total.
The Wolves' wayward long-range shooting proved the difference, with the team making just five of 29 from beyond the arc.
The Warriors by contrast made 18-of-42 from three-point range with Buddy Hield draining five threes to lead the Golden State scoring with 24 points.
Jimmy Butler added 20 points while defensive linchpin Draymond Green also chipped in with an important 18-point haul.
But the victory was clouded by a worrying injury to superstar Curry, who left the game in the second quarter clutching his left hamstring.
The 11-time All-Star headed to the locker room for treatment and did not return, almost certainly ruling him out of Thursday's game two and putting a question mark over his fitness for the rest of the series.
"We want Steph back, I tell you that -- it's hard playing without that man," Butler told TNT television after the win. "Steph is our best player, and the game is much easier when we've got him."
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said the veteran would undergo an MRI scan on Wednesday.
"We're definitely game-planning for him not to be available on Thursday," Kerr said.
"We don't know yet, but with a hamstring, it's hard to imagine that he would play Thursday.
"I spoke to him at half-time and he's obviously crushed. But the guys picked him up and played a great game. We're all concerned but it's part of the game."
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