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Timberwolves overwhelm Warriors without Curry to tie series

Without their big man on the court, the Warriors were completely outplayed by an unforgiving Timberwolves. Julius Randle led the way and guided Minnesota to a 117-93 victory to even the second-round NBA playoff series at one win apiece.

With Stephen Curry out with a hamstring strain - and no clear return date - Golden State started the game asleep, and Minnesota took advantage without hesitation. The Wolves opened with a 13-0 run that made it clear how the night would go. Jimmy Butler, ironically, was the one who ended that drought with a three-pointer, though that would do little to change the script.

Randle put in a brilliant performance: 24 points and 11 assists that set the pace of the game. Alongside him, Anthony Edwards added 20 points and, despite an injury scare, stayed on the court and was key to the team's offensive solidity. The home side improved their production from the perimeter with 16 three-pointers made out of 37 attempts, a huge jump from their poor performance in the series opener.

Minnesota's long, intense and well-organised defence had a good night. Without the constant threat of Curry, they closed space and smothered opposing shooters. Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski were virtually invisible on offense, while Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis tried to hold their own with 18 and 15 points, respectively. However, it wasn't enough against the Wolves' offensive and defensive onslaught.

Golden State had one of its worst offensive outings in years. Just 15 points in the first quarter, their worst playoff record since 2016, when they scored 11 against Cleveland in the Finals. That time, they lost, too. This time, the story was not much different.

Steve Kerr, with no clear options, opted to move the bench and gave minutes to 14 players, 12 of them before the first quarter was over. But the formula did not work. Without a clear leader and with a defence that was leaking all over the place, the Warriors never found the pulse of the game.

To make matters worse, Draymond Green was once again in the headlines for the unsportsmanlike. He picked up his fifth technical so far in the playoffs after hitting Naz Reid with his elbow. Upset by the foul called against him, Green did not stop protesting to referee Tony Brothers during the timeout, bordering on ejection. Curry, from the bench, tried to calm his teammate down to avoid any further trouble, even approaching the scorer's table.

The atmosphere on the Golden State bench was one of restrained tension. Curry, with a straight face, followed the game with the coaching staff as his team fell apart on the court. The uncertainty over his recovery adds even more pressure heading into Game 3.

With this win, Minnesota not only ties the series but sends a clear message: without Curry at 100%, the Warriors are going to have a tough time standing up. The third round promises to be decisive, especially if the San Francisco star is still out.

The playoffs are still open, but with a clear change of dynamic. The Timberwolves are on fire, and if they keep it up, they could pull off a shock that few expected just a few weeks ago.