On Saturday, May 10, the Golden State Warriors returned to the Bay with the series tied and everything to play for. After stealing Game 1 on the road with a gritty defensive effort, things quickly unraveled in Game 2 as the Minnesota Timberwolves bounced back with a dominant 117-93 win.
The Warriors, playing their first full postseason game without Stephen Curry due to a hamstring strain, clearly missed their leader, and it showed. Back at the Chase Center for Game 3, Golden State looked to reset.
Jimmy Butler III, brought in for moments like these, was expected to shoulder more of the load as the team tried to reclaim control. Meanwhile, Draymond Green quietly made history in Game 2, becoming just the 15th player in NBA history to notch over 1,000 career playoff assists.
But even that milestone couldn’t slow down Julius Randle, whose all-around performance helped fuel Minnesota’s bounce-back win. The series is no longer just tied; it’s tilting.
Here’s the full player breakdown and box score that told the story of Game 3.
Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Game 3 Box Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warriors | 21 | 21 | 31 | 24 | 97 |
| Timberwolves | 21 | 19 | 29 | 33 | 102 |
Warriors Players’ Stats
| Player | PTS | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| J. Butler | 33 | 7 | 7 |
| B. Hield | 14 | 4 | 5 |
| T. Jackson-Davis | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| B. Podziemski | 5 | 8 | 2 |
| D. Green | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| J. Kuminga | 30 | 6 | 3 |
| K. Looney | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| G. Payton II | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Q. Post | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| M. Moody | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Timberwolves Players’ Stats
| Player | PTS | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Edwards | 36 | 4 | 4 |
| Julius Randle | 24 | 10 | 12 |
| Jaden McDaniels | 15 | 6 | 1 |
| Rudy Gobert | 9 | 13 | 0 |
| Mike Conley | 7 | 4 | 5 |
| Naz Reid | 9 | 3 | 2 |
| Donte DiVincenzo | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | 0 | 2 | 4 |
Warriors vs. Timberwolves Game 3 Recap
The Timberwolves came out strong in the first quarter, quickly building an eight-point lead within the first four minutes. Minnesota’s offensive rebounds and aggressive play seemed to set the tone early.
However, the Warriors responded with composure, rallying back to even the score. For Golden State, Jimmy Butler scored two important layups to keep the Warriors in the game.
On the other hand, the Timberwolves saw some missed opportunities. Anthony Edwards missed both a layup and a 3-point attempt, while Rudy Gobert committed an offensive foul.
By the end of the first quarter, both teams were tied at 21–21.
The second quarter was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams fighting for momentum, but the Warriors came out on top with a slim 21-19 win in the period. This gave them a 42-40 lead heading into halftime.
Butler continued to play a pivotal role for Golden State, scoring a tough layup at 2:16 with a nice assist from Jonathan Kuminga. Butler’s presence on the floor was crucial, though he missed another layup.
The Timberwolves had their chances to answer back, with Edwards and Jaden McDaniels both missing 3-point attempts from 23 feet. These missed shots were critical, as they could have swung the momentum back in Minnesota’s favor.
The third quarter saw both teams trading blows, but the Warriors edged ahead 31-29 to take a slim 73-69 lead into the final frame.
Golden State found rhythm behind the arc, with Buddy Hield drilling a deep 3 and then assisting Kuminga on another. Kuminga bounced back from an earlier turnover with that confident shot, keeping momentum on the Warriors’ side.
Minnesota kept it close, thanks to Edwards hitting a tough 27-footer and Rudy Gobert converting at the line. But the play of the quarter came from Kevon Looney, who stuffed Edwards at the rim in the final seconds, sealing the quarter with a statement block.
When it mattered most, the Timberwolves found another gear and the Warriors simply couldn’t keep up.
Golden State held a 5-point lead with just over eight minutes left, up 82–77, but from that point on, it all unraveled. The Timberwolves outscored them 25–12 in the final stretch, flipping the script and crushing any momentum the Warriors had built. Without Curry on the floor, Golden State looked disjointed and struggled to find quality looks, while Minnesota went full throttle.
Randle and company came out firing, turning defense into offense and executing in crunch time. At one point, the Warriors trailed 9–16 in the fourth and things only got worse.
By the final buzzer, the Timberwolves had run away with a 33–24 quarter, securing a gritty 102–97 win on the road. The Game 3 victory gives Minnesota a crucial 2–1 lead in the series, with momentum swinging heavily in their favor.
