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How the Warriors will react without Stephen Curry is the biggest question of Game 2.
After shockingly taking down the Timberwolves in Game 1 following a grueling seven-game series with the Rockets, Golden State is now sitting pretty, having wrestled away home-court advantage from Minnesota.
Without Curry, the Jimmy Butler Show will need to take center stage if the Warriors are going to have a chance to go up 2-0 on the road.
The odds would certainly suggest Curry sits Game 2. Golden State opened as a 10.5-point underdog at Caesars Sportsbook, with the moneyline ballooning up to +420.
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Warriors vs. Timberwolves Game 2 betting preview
Butler, a former Timberwolf who could have revenge on his mind in Game 2, is oddly well positioned to keep the Warriors involved in this game.
He will rely heavily on Buddy Hield to carry the scoring load for Golden State, and we know the Warriors’ defense is going to be ferocious, as it has been all NBA playoffs.
Minnesota has made just seven of its last 60 3-point attempts dating back to the Lakers series in Game 5. Yikes!
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) and center Rudy Gobert (27) high-five during the first half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors on May 6, 2025. APIn their past three games, the Warriors have the second-best defensive rating, and teams are shooting just 41.5 percent from the field against them.
Normally, we’d lean on my model, which has been churning out wins left and right; we’re 5-1 against the spread (ATS) in our last six NBA picks.
But with Curry’s absence, we have to throw away the model for a minute.
In three games that Butler has played without Curry during the regular season, the trade deadline acquisition averaged 20 points per game on a terrible 15.4 percent from 3-point range (4.3 attempts per game).
With the Warriors lineup shortening, they will be forced to play a bit more of their bench, namely, Jonathan Kuminga, who should be dusted off and relied on to score a bit more.
Historically, Kuminga has had some success with Curry out. In the three games that Butler was in town but Curry did not play, Kuminga played in 24, 22, and 25 minutes, averaging 13.7 points per game, respectively.
He might be worth a stab on his player prop point total Over when it is released; anything better than Over 7.5 points is a worthwhile flier.
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Unders are 5-3 (62.5 percent) in Warriors games this postseason, with the total also going Under in four of six games for the Timberwolves.
I suspect that scoring will be at an even bigger premium with Curry declared out.
The total opened at 202.5 and has been bet down only to 201.5 at the time of writing, as Curry is set to miss at least a week.
THE PLAY: Warriors-Timberwolves Under 201.5 (-106, Caesars Sportsbook).
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