The Golden State Warriors leaned on their stifling defense in Game 1 of their second-round series on Tuesday night to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 99–88.
The win was powered by Buddy Hield, who scored a game-high 24 points; Draymond Green, who tallied 18 points, eight rebounds, and six assists; and Jimmy Butler, who added 20 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists.
However, despite the victory, the Warriors suffered a major setback when superstar Stephen Curry left the game with a Grade 1 hamstring strain. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday that Curry is expected to miss about a week, which likely rules him out for Game 2, Game 3, and possibly Games 4 and 5.
Following the win, NBA legend and Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson weighed in on the game and sent a clear message regarding Curry’s health moving forward.
“I’m crossing my fingers and praying Steph Curry’s injury is not too serious and he won’t miss too many games,” Johnson said.
Johnson also highlighted the many positives from the Warriors’ performance, emphasizing their high basketball IQ as a major factor in the Game 1 victory.
“Jimmy Butler led the Warriors with 20 points and 11 rebounds while Buddy Held added 24 points to take Game 1 over the Timberwolves 99-88,” Johnson said. “What makes the Warriors so tough is they have the best coach in the league, Steve Kerr, and he showed that last night with his offensive and defensive game plans.
Johnson added, “The Warriors are also the smartest team in the NBA with the highest basketball IQ and leaders Steph, Draymond and Jimmy. This is why they beat the Timberwolves last night!”
Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Fame point guard Magic Johnson.
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Game 2 of the series is set to take place on Thursday in Minnesota, before the action shifts back to Golden State for two games. The Warriors will look to extend their series lead with their best player sidelined, which will undoubtedly present a challenging task.