Warriors facing elimination after Timberwolves pull away in Game 4

SAN FRANCISCO – The gold-clad, sold-out Chase Center crowd let out one groan after another as they watched what could be the final Warriors home game of the season slip away against the Timberwolves on Monday night.

What began as a second consecutive competitive game with Steph Curry and his injured left hamstring on the sidelines turned into a 117-110 Timberwolves victory and a 3-1 series deficit for the Warriors.

“They hit shots. They shot the ball extremely well,” Draymond Green said. “I thought we defended good in spurts, but they got going and we never was able to put out the fire.”

The 18,064 paying spectators saw Jonathan Kuminga score 23 as a rare bright spot for the team, but also watched Jimmy Butler put up just 14 on a quiet 5-for-9 shooting night. Golden State as a whole shot just 43.5% from the field as Anthony Edwards (30 points), Julius Randle (31 points) and the Wolves’ defense pulled away.

After going into halftime up two points, the Warriors saw their lead evaporate as the Wolves embarked on a 21-2 run starting with two Rudy Gobert free throws.

Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga #00 puts up a shot past Minnesota Timberwolves’ Jaden McDaniels #3 in the second quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

The Warriors left the third quarter trailing by 20 after a 12-minute stretch filled with fruitless Golden State drives, turnovers and a parade of made Timberwolves jumpers.

:We just lost our ability to connect the game there in that third quarter, and they got loose and that was the difference in the game,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

The 7-foot-3 Gobert was an unsolvable obstacle in the paint, blocking just one shot but stifling the Warriors’ drives while Edwards made three 3-pointers to give the Wolves an 80-68 lead with 5:30 left in the quarter.

As Curry looked helplessly on from the bench, the Warriors went almost five minutes without scoring a point and were outscored 39-17 during the period.

The fourth quarter was a mere formality, with coach Steve Kerr waiving the white flag and putting in reserves with 4:30 left. The benchwarmers cut into the deficit in garbage time, albeit against the Wolves’ starters.

It was a stark departure from the intensity of the game’s beginning.

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry #30 watches from the bench in the third quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

During the pregame shootaround, the Warriors spoke about the importance of playing with pace.

Draymond Green and Kuminga showed they took the message to heart, pushing the tempo at every opportunity against the athletic Wolves and helping give the Warriors a 28-27 first-quarter lead.

That continued in the second quarter, when Buddy Hield took advantage of open space to score 10 points, while Kuminga used his pace to blow past Naz Ried for eight points and a 60-58 lead after 24 minutes.

It all fell apart after halftime, though, as the Warriors made only two 3-pointers in the second half — both during garbage time.

The Warriors will try to keep their season alive when they play Game 5 in Minneapolis on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. PT.

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) talks to a referee during their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Buddy Hield #7 is fouled by Minnesota Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert #27 as he goes to the basket in the first quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Buddy Hield (7) is fouled by Minnesota Timberwolves’ Mike Conley (10) in the first quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski (2) reacts to a foul called against the Warriors during their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green #23 and Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards #5 vie for a loose ball in the first quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. To the left is Golden State Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis #32. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry #30 listens to teammate Jimmy Butler III #10 on the bench in the fourth quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green #23 puts up a shot over Minnesota Timberwolves’ Julius Randle #30 in the first quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Kevon Looney (5) takes a shot against Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards (5) in the second quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski #2 is fouled as he’s double teamed by Minnesota Timberwolves’ Naz Reid #11 and Donte DiVincenzo #0 in the first quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga (00) takes a shot against Minnesota Timberwolves’ Naz Reid (11) in the first quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski #2 drives into the key as he’s guarded by Minnesota Timberwolves’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker #9 in the second quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Kevon Looney (5) fights for the ball against Minnesota Timberwolves’ Julius Randle (30) in the second quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga #00 shoots a layup past Minnesota Timberwolves’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker #9 in the second quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Kevon Looney (5) takes a shot against Minnesota Timberwolves’ Naz Reid (11) in the second quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga #00 drives into the key in the second quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) waits to go into the game next to Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski #2 puts up a shot as he’s guarded by Minnesota Timberwolves’ Bones Hyland #77 in the second quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski #2 and Jimmy Butler III #10 double team Minnesota Timberwolves’ Donte DiVincenzo #0 in the fourth quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga (00) tries to get a shot off against Minnesota Timberwolves’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) in the second quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga #00 drives to the basket past Minnesota Timberwolves’ Naz Reid #11 in the first quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski (2) is fouled by Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards (5) in the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Buddy Hield #7 shoots a 3-point basket in the second quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga (00) takes a shot against Minnesota Timberwolves’ Julius Randle (30) in the third quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors head coach and his coaching staff watch from the bench in the fourth quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green #23 fouls Minnesota Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert #27 in the fourth quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards #5 shoots a layup in the second quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game against the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Minnesota Timberwolves’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker #9 shoots a layup past Golden State Warriors’ Buddy Hield #7 in the third quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green #23 looks to pass as he’s pressured by Minnesota Timberwolves’ Mike Conley #10 in the second quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry #30 acknowledges Golden State Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis #32 as he walks off the court after their 117-110 NBA Western Conference semifinal loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Scooby the Chihuahua gets ready to take a shot during a timeout in the second quarter of the Golden State Warriors NBA Western Conference semifinal game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Show Caption1 of 30Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) talks to a referee during their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Expand