Timberwolves Surge Past Warriors to Seize Series Lead

Once Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves found their rhythm on Monday night, they were unstoppable.

In the second half at the Chase Center, Edwards and the Timberwolves came alive, securing a 117-110 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinals. This triumph gives Minnesota a strong 3-1 series advantage, putting them within one win of reaching the conference finals for the second consecutive year—a milestone the franchise has never achieved before.

The Warriors are now facing an unusual setback, having lost three consecutive games for the first time in 2025. It’s only the second instance in the Steve Kerr era that they’ve encountered such a losing streak in the playoffs.

The game was a tight contest in the first half, with both teams evenly matched. The Warriors took a slender two-point lead into halftime, finishing the second quarter with a 14-6 run—though it would’ve been more significant if not for Edwards’ buzzer-beating deep 3-pointer over Draymond Green and Gary Payton. That basket marked the Timberwolves’ 10th three-pointer within the initial 24 minutes.

Edwards and the Timberwolves truly ignited in the third quarter. They began with a dominant 22-8 surge, followed by a hefty 17-0 run that nearly silenced the Warriors. Edwards was particularly unstoppable, scoring 16 of his 30 points in the third and sinking three treys.

During this quarter, Minnesota restricted Golden State to a mere 17 points and concluded with a 29-9 burst, establishing a robust 20-point lead. Amazingly, the game was even at the eight-minute mark in the third.

By then, it was too late for the Warriors to stage any significant rally—even though they did mount a brief charge in the final minutes, courtesy of Moses Moody, Quinten Post, and Gui Santos hitting their first threes of the half. Despite committing 12 turnovers in the fourth, Minnesota clinched the seven-point win.

Edwards was exceptional for Minnesota, shooting 11-of-21 from the field and 6-of-11 from beyond the arc to tally his 30 points. Julius Randle also shone with 31 points as the Timberwolves hit nearly 50% from the floor and a remarkable 47% from deep as a team.

For Golden State, Jonathan Kuminga was the top scorer with 23 points off the bench. Draymond Green contributed with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Buddy Hield added 13 points. The team struggled from three-point range, managing only 8-of-27. Jimmy Butler was notably subdued, recording 14 points and attempting just one shot from the three-point line out of nine total attempts.

The Warriors are without their star Stephen Curry, sidelined until at least Game 6 following a hamstring strain in the series opener—his first muscle strain, leaving the team without a precise recovery timetable. Without Curry, the team has dropped three consecutive matchups.

The Warriors must devise a strategy to claim victory without Curry’s presence in Minnesota on Wednesday night. Otherwise, Curry’s season could end prematurely, sending the Warriors home earlier than anticipated.