The Golden State Warriors have Jimmy Butler III to rely on after Stephen Curry missed Game 2 because of an injury. However, the Warriors couldn’t topple Julius Randle’s offense, and the Minnesota Timberwolves returned to tie the series.
Butler finished the game with 17 points and didn’t have his usual influence on the game. Unlike tonight, the wingman had a pretty solid outing last time with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. But he went missing when the going got tough.
Without Curry, he found it hard to find his rhythm and couldn’t make much of a difference to the Warriors. Those playmaking skills didn’t come into fruition in this game as he looks to up the ante in the next game.
The Timberwolves tied the series 1-1, and the next two games will be in San Francisco. The Warriors are 9-3 in the playoffs without Curry, but they had Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green in their prime. Now, it’s a different story.
Jimmy Butler III vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: Game 2 Stats
| Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33:51 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 6/13 | 2/4 |
Butler vs. Timberwolves: How Did Butler Perform in Game 2?
Butler started the game casually, scoring 6 points in the first half. He didn’t become as aggressive as he could, and looked a bit restricted from pushing forward with the ball. Butler grabbed rebounds as usual but missed some shots inside. Moreover, Butler just had one three-pointer in the first half.
Without Curry, the Warriors struggled defensively in the first half. Randle was strong, and the Warriors couldn’t initially deal with him inside the paint and outside the perimeter.
However, Butler started expressing his dominance in the second half. The former Miami Heat star began to attack the rim and showed a desire to score buckets. He drained some of them, but some shots just became wayward.
Jimmy Butler looks scared to score at times and it’s very odd
— Steph Curry Muse (@StephMuse_) May 9, 2025
Yet, he slowed down again as it was a hot and cold performance in Game 2.
Butler drove to the basket laterally, looking to pass, and he never wanted to score the basket. With him looking for the pass and his teammates missing open shots, the Warriors automatically struggled to score.
He shot 6/13 from the floor and had four assists to finish the game. As Curry’s not going to be back for the next few games, Butler must attack the basket if the Warriors need to win the next two games and get back in the series.
Jimmy Butler III vs. Timberwolves: Head-to-Head Career Stats
If Curry is the main guy at the Warriors, Butler plays Robin to his Batman. He averaged 18.3 points, grabbed 6.0 rebounds, and brought his playmaking skills by getting 4.8 assists. Butler’s passing has remained efficient lately as he’s taken the playmaker role to the next level.
Without Curry on the floor, Butler remains the primary ball handler, moving the ball and setting plays on the floor.
An injury kept him out of a game against the Rockets, but he scored 20+ points in four games. Everyone knows he brings his A-game during the playoffs.
Affectionately called ‘Playoffs Jimmy’, he averaged 21.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in 126 games. Everyone knows what he did to the Milwaukee Bucks a few years back. Therefore, Butler remains critical to the Warriors’ offense and must step up in Curry’s absence.
Butler’s last 10 games vs. the Timberwolves
- April 05, 2024 – 22 pts, 3 rebs, 3 asts
- February 13, 2025 – 19 pts, 8 rebs, 4 asts
- April 06, 2025 – 13 pts, 5 rebs, 3 asts
- April 20, 2025 – 25 pts, 7 rebs, 6 asts
- April 23, 2025 – 3 pts, 2 rebs, 0 asts
- April 28, 2025 – 27 pts, 5 rebs, 6 asts
- April 30, 2025 – 8 pts, 5 rebs, 2 asts
- May 02, 2025 – 27 pts, 9 rebs, 8 asts
- May 06, 2025 – 20 pts, 11 rebs, 8 asts
- May 08, 2025 – 17 pts, 7 rebs, 4 asts
