Warriors Lean on Pat Spencer in Wake of Curry's Injury Against Timberwolves

With Stephen Curry sidelined midway through the first half, the Golden State Warriors turned to Pat Spencer for crucial offensive support and strategic guard play.

The Warriors faced an uphill battle as they began their second-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, especially after taking seven games to defeat the second-seeded Houston Rockets in the first round. In contrast, the Wolves breezed through their opening series, dispatching the Los Angeles Lakers with relative ease.

Golden State had only a single day to regroup after their final showdown with Houston. Meanwhile, Minnesota enjoyed a luxurious five-day break to freshen up. Compounding the challenge, the Timberwolves boasted a deeper roster, which gave them a clear advantage.

The situation worsened when Stephen Curry strained his left hamstring during the first half of Game 1. Throughout the Houston series, Curry was instrumental in energizing the Warriors’ offense. Although Golden State managed to establish an early 14-point lead by the second quarter, the absence of their scoring maestro and key playmaker posed a significant threat.

With Curry off the court, the Warriors’ offensive rhythm faltered, notwithstanding their defense and ball movement, which effectively mitigated most of Minnesota’s comeback attempts. However, it was apparent early in the second half that Golden State needed a spark on offense, especially when Jimmy Butler had to take a rest.

Head Coach Steve Kerr called on Northwestern standout Pat Spencer four minutes into the third quarter. Despite logging just 250 total minutes during the regular season, Kerr relied on Spencer to deliver some of the shooting and playmaking prowess lost with Curry’s injury.

During his final college season, Spencer showcased reliable skills in the backcourt for the Northwestern Wildcats. He carried that poise to Golden State, not merely enduring his playoff minutes but making a substantial impact.

Though not flawless, Spencer’s enthusiasm and steadiness exceeded expectations for a second-year player in such a critical postseason role. He concluded the night with four points on 2-4 shooting, including his trademark running hook, alongside two rebounds and two steals in a little over 10 minutes of play. This performance brought his playoff totals to 32 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals across four appearances.