In the cavernous roar of Minneapolis’s Target Center on May 14, 2025, a single shot fractured the Warriors’ season and sent Timberwolves fans into delirium as Julius Randle’s deep three rattled in to seal a 121–110 Game 5 victory and eliminate Golden State from the playoffs.
Cameras immediately cut to Stephen Curry on the bench, a moment so raw it encapsulated a dynasty’s abrupt collapse. Within minutes, the clip was splashed across X and TikTok, where Curry’s disbelief on seeing Randle’s quick celebration racked up thousands of shares and spawned a deluge of memes.
Stephen Curry’s Expressions Reflected the Warriors’ State of Mind
Minnesota sprinted to a 15‑point halftime lead, buoyed by Randle’s 29 points on 13‑of‑18 shooting, eight rebounds, and five assists—a stat line that underscored his postseason prowess. Anthony Edwards added 22 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds, slicing through Golden State’s makeshift defense with ease.
Jimmy Butler III chipped in 17 points and used his veteran savvy to stymie any Warrior response. But it was Brandin Podziemski who racked up 28 points with Kuminga in tow, carrying 26, helping the Warriors to end at 110, to say the least.
The Timberwolves never trailed after the opening minutes, securing back‑to‑back Western Conference finals berths for the first time in franchise history.
The Dubs’ offense sputtered without Curry, who had been ruled out after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring strain in Game 1. By halftime, Minnesota was 62—47, and despite a spirited Golden State run in the fourth quarter, it was clear that the Wolves came for the kill tonight.
As Randle celebrated a deep three-pointer in the second quarter—arms outstretched, triumphant grin in place—the national broadcast cut to Curry, whose visible astonishment was palpable. Cameras caught him shaking his head and staring blankly into space, an image that swiftly became the definitive snapshot of the evening’s drama.
Within minutes, clips of Curry’s reaction were circulating on TikTok and X via ClutchPoints and other accounts, racking up thousands of views and spawning countless memes.
Fans echoed that sentiment: some praised Randle’s clutch gene, others lamented Golden State’s injuries, and many simply reveled in watching Curry’s legendary poise crack—if only for a moment.
What’s Ahead for Curry and His Defeated Warriors?
Golden State’s season had already been in jeopardy since Game 1, when Curry suffered a hamstring injury and was ruled out for the remainder of the series. In addition to discouraging the fans, this proved to be the Warriors’ greatest weakness as they were all over the place without their floor General.
After eking out a 99–88 win to go up 1–0, the defending champions went on to lose four straight:
Game 2: 93–117
Game 3: 97–102
Game 4: 110–117
Game 5: 110–121
Golden State’s second‑round exit marked the earliest playoff departure for the Curry‑Kerr era since 2016. Meanwhile, Game 5’s loss exposed the team’s thin bench and raised questions about its ability to replicate past successes without Curry’s gravity and shooting.
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For Minnesota, the victory affirmed Randle’s emergence as a bona fide postseason star. As for the Warriors, their focus shifts to recovery and roster recalibration, with the franchise’s front office expected to be active at the NBA Draft and free agency.
