The Golden State Warriors took a vital 1-0 lead in their Western Conference Semifinals matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 99-88 win on Tuesday.
Although Stephen Curry was forced to exit the game in the second quarter due to a hamstring injury, the Warriors maintained their composure, largely thanks to the standout play of Buddy Hield.
Hield’s performance powers Warriors to victory
Buddy Hield stepped up in a major way, delivering a game-high 24 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and one steal. His stellar all-around performance helped the Warriors overcome Curry’s early exit and gave them the advantage in what was a tight game.
This win marked the second straight postseason game where Hield delivered when it mattered most, having scored 33 points in Game 7 against the Houston Rockets just days earlier.
Despite struggling with consistency throughout the regular season, Hield’s strong showing in the postseason has proven that head coach Steve Kerr’s faith in the guard is well-placed. Kerr had kept Hield in the rotation even during rough patches, and the guard’s performances in the playoffs are now paying dividends for the Warriors.
While Hield’s on-court contributions were invaluable, the game was not without its moments of levity. Just a minute into the contest, a wardrobe blunder saw Hield wearing the wrong pair of shorts.
The Timberwolves’ bench quickly pointed out the mistake, and the Warriors were forced to call a timeout to allow Hield to head back to the locker room and change into the correct shorts.
This humorous incident caused a brief delay, but it gave fans a rare, lighthearted moment in the midst of an intense playoff atmosphere. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr’s reaction to the mix-up was priceless. At first, he looked concerned, but once he realized what had happened, Kerr couldn’t help but smile at the absurdity of the situation.
Despite the funny mishap, Hield’s focus remained on the game, and he quickly got back into the flow of play. His 24-point performance helped the Warriors steal home-court advantage, leaving the Timberwolves with a lot to prove in Game 2.
With Curry’s injury status still uncertain, the Warriors will rely on players like Hield to keep their momentum going as they head into Thursday’s Game 2 at the Target Center, scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET. With the series now in Golden State’s favor, they’ll look to extend their lead and take a commanding 2-0 advantage in the best-of-seven series.
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