The Minnesota Timberwolves persevered Saturday night in a tight affair against the Golden State Warriors, capitalizing on Draymond Green fouling out with 4:38 remaining in the fourth quarter to win 102-97 and take a 2-1 lead in the West semifinal series.
Minnesota led by two with less than five minutes remaining in the game when Green was called for his sixth foul as Jaden McDaniels attacked the basket.
From there, the Timberwolves pushed their lead to as many as nine to fend off some hot shooting late from Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga.
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After another sluggish start for Minnesota star Anthony Edwards, the guard came alive in the fourth quarter, hitting three 3-pointers as part of 13 points in the frame. Edwards finished with 36 points on 13-of-28 shooting.
Minnesota took an early lead, but a 9-0 run from the Warriors tied the score at 21 after one quarter. The two teams kept things close, with Golden State pulling ahead for a 42-40 halftime lead.
With Curry sidelined, the Warriors’ usual threat from beyond the arc was missing. The team didn’t hit its first 3-pointer until the start of the third quarter after shooting 0 of 5 from distance in the first half. Golden State finished 10 of 23 from 3, but for most of the game the Warriors depended on dominance in the paint.
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Before Edwards and the Wolves took control, it looked like the Warriors’ Jimmy Butler and Kuminga would be the story of the game. The much-maligned Kuminga, who has played sparingly this postseason, scored 30 off the bench with three 3-pointers and six rebounds. Playoff Jimmy made an appearance in Game 3 with 33 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, and also hitting two 3s for good measure.
But Edwards and Julius Randle had the last laugh. Randle put up 24 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists, playing forcefully down the stretch as Minnesota imposed its will.
After shocking the Timberwolves in Game 1 and then getting routed in Game 2, the Warriors returned home with a chance to take the series lead. But Golden State lost a grind of a game, and now perhaps has more questions than answers.
The two teams will return to the Chase Center on Monday for Game 4.
