While second chance points nearly made the game closer than it should have been, the Wolves controlled an elimination game from start to finish, and closed a team out on their home floor for the first time in 21 years
For the first time in the Chris Finch era, the Minnesota Timberwolves had the opportunity to close a series out at Target Center.
Contrary to many games during the regular season, and even this series, their energy reflected it early on, specifically on the offensive end. A 30-23 opening quarter to generate a nice start ahead of the Golden State Warriors with free-flowing offense got the Wolves off on a good foot.
Elimination game Rudy Gobert anyone?
The big man closed out the first quarter as the most active player on the Wolves side, with eight points and three rebounds, decisively rolling to the basket and taking advantage of a lack of help by the Warriors in the dunker’s area.
Such a ridiculous setpic.twitter.com/P667t7Dgi5
— Canis Hoopus (@canishoopus) May 15, 2025
It shaped up to be a favorable game for him with a continued lack of true height for Golden State and a worn-down lineup for a team that’s played heavy minutes for the previous 11 games they’ve played.
Where things fell of the tracks was the second chance points bugaboo; a thorn in the Wolves’ paw for much of the playoffs. A 10-0 advantage for the Warriors heading into halftime gave Draymond Green and company life heading into the second half, even though carrying a double-digit deficit.
Warriors up 10-0 in second chance points. One of the main reasons this game is close
— Ryan Eichten (@REichten) May 15, 2025
Energy and hustle plays can be backbreaking, and for a Timberwolves team that has the rest advantage with a fuller rotation, ball watching when it goes up was going to be the only way that the Warriors would have a chance to bring a Game 6 back to San Francisco.
Even with an increased 15-0 advantage in second chance points with five minutes to go in the third quarter, the glaring and impossible-to-miss truth is the Warriors couldn’t do much to overcome being completely outgunned and outmanned.
Whether Julius Randle post-ups on Jimmy Butler, Anthony Edwards blow-bys on tired perimeter defenders, or Rudy Gobert wearing down the interior, it was a game destined to be a shellacking by a team hell-bent on closing the series out at home. Even with the lead down to single digits and a 22-2 advantage in second chance points for the Warriors with less than 10 minutes to go, the right players made the right plays at the right times.
Anthony Edwards PnR pull-up 3 pic.twitter.com/R2WKftkXGP
— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) May 15, 2025
The second chance dialogue can happen next series. The lack of rebounding can be an issue brought up in the series preview for the Western Conference Finals.
Take some time, enjoy this one.
This story will be updated throughout the night after coach and player media availabilities.
Up Next
Game 1 will either be on Sunday or Tuesday.