Jimmy Butler III and Jonathan Kuminga’s valiant efforts fall short in Game 3 loss

Playoff Jimmy showed up. Jonathan Kuminga showed out. But it wasn’t enough for the Warriors to win.

The Golden State Warriors lost Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals to the Minnesota Timberwolves 102-97. The Dubs are now trailing 2-1 in the series and find themselves in a seemingly must-win Game 4 situation.

The Wolves jumped out to an early 8-2 lead, featuring an Anthony Edwards step-back three that seemed like a foreboding sign for Golden State. The Dubs just do not have the firepower to keep up with Minnesota’s offense when Edwards is firing on all cylinders. Luckily for Golden State, Edwards would not make another jump shot in the first half.

With Steph Curry’s return far from imminent, Jimmy Butler III started the game with the intensity many outsiders have been clamoring for. He was consistently driving inside from the first possession on, and was far more willing to look for his own shot in the process. Butler had a few turnovers in the first half, but also had a game-high 18 points and 5 assists.

The Warriors may have had the most interior-focused offense an NBA game has seen in more than a decade. Even with Rudy Gobert altering plenty of shots, Golden State only made one shot that was not in the paint during the first half.

Make no mistake, Golden State’s offense was struggling, but their elite defense returned and allowed them to keep things competitive. Perhaps the best player on the floor was Jonathan Kuminga.

Kuminga was a defensive force. He sagged too far off Naz Reid on one possession, leading to a wide open three, but was otherwise locked in as both a help and on-ball defender. He had two impressive blocks, several tips, and consistently pushed the pace in transition.

Offensively, Kuminga made the only Warriors jump shot in the first half and rightfully attacked the paint whenever he had a mismatch on him. Kuminga took advantage of the slower footed Reid and the much smaller Mike Conley multiple times. At halftime, Kuminga had 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and a game-best +11 plus/minus on 5-for-7 shooting in what was probably the best all-around half of his NBA career.

Still, the Warriors were fighting an uphill battle. Without any outside shooting threats, the Dubs made zero three pointers in the first half. Kuminga and Butler were the only Warriors with at least five points in the half. Trayce Jackson-Davis was the only other Golden State player with more than 2 (he had 4).

Despite trailing for most of the first two quarters, the Warriors brought a 42-40 lead into halftime.

In the third quarter, Kerr kept Jackson-Davis in the starting lineup over Kuminga for Curry’s open spot. Edwards came into the third quarter with a relentless approach to attacking inside. The best player on the Wolves would not be held so quiet anymore.

But Playoff Jimmy was on the floor too. Butler and Edwards were keeping either opponent from pulling away. But concern arose for the Warriors defense when Draymond Green was called for his fourth foul.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr used his challenge to try and get the call overturned. Julius Randle was driving on Green and clearly extended his arm into Green’s chest. It definitely could have been called for a charge. However, Green was not quite square in his positioning and review crew ultimately upheld the call. So Green went to the bench for Kevon Looney.

Despite losing the perennial Defensive Player of the Year contender to the bench, Golden State was able to stay slightly ahead of Minnesota. Butler was doing everything in his power and the Warriors finally got some three-point shots to fall.

Late in the quarter, Kuminga, Buddy Hield, and Butler all hit threes in short succession, but Edwards answered in a big way with a poster dunk over Looney and a three of his own. Heading into the final quarter, the Warriors held a slim 73-69 lead.

Edwards finally unlocked his three-point shot and gave Minnesota an 84-82 lead with 6:16 left in regulation. Less than 90 (regulation) seconds later, Green would pick up his fifth foul on a shrewd challenge by Wolves coach Chris Finch. One defensive possession later, Green fouled out of the game after allowing Jaden McDaniels to drive the baseline on him.

McDaniels made the free throws to give Minnesota an 86-82 lead with 4:38 on the clock, and the Warriors were now without their best defensive player for the final minutes.

Despite Butler’s valiant effort, he was clearly running on fumes late. He was unable to finish a pair of layups over Gobert that he had been able to convert earlier in the contest. On the other end, huge triples from McDaniels, Edwards, and an and-one by Gobert gave Minnesota a seven-point lead with 1:13 left on the clock.

Hield made a three to cut the deficit to four, but it was far from enough. The Warriors just did not have enough offensive firepower to overcome Curry and Green’s absence late.

Butler finished the game with 33 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. Kuminga scored 30 points off the bench on 11-for-18 shooting from the field alongside 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. Hield had a quiet 14 points on 5-for-11 shooting (4-for-8 from three). No other Warrior had more than 7 points.

Edwards proved to be too much for the Warriors to overcome. He scored a game-high 36 points and benefited from another huge performance from Julius Randle, who racked up 24 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. Reid and McDaniels were also a combined 6-for-7 from three.

Both teams will have one day off in the Bay Area before Game 4 at Chase Center on Monday night. Opening tip-off is scheduled for 10:00 pm Eastern.