- What: NBA Western Conference Playoffs Semifinals Game 1
- When: May 6, 2025
- Who: Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
- Time: 6:30 p.m. PST
- Where: Target Center (Minneapolis, MN)
The Minnesota Timberwolves will face the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday in the start of their best-of-7 series in the Western Conference semifinals of the NBA Playoffs.
The game will take place at Target Center, with the tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET. The Warriors came out on top in their regular-season matchup, winning 3 out of 4 games.
The No. 7 seed Golden State needed a full seven games to eliminate the second-seeded Houston Rockets in the first round, winning the decisive Game 7 with a score of 103-89 while being a 2.5-point underdog.
Buddy Hield, who had a disappointing Game 6, bounced back with a stunning performance, scoring a game-high 33 points and setting an NBA record for three-pointers in a Game 7. He shot 9-for-11 from beyond the arc, surpassing Houston’s entire team in made threes.
Stephen Curry added 22 points, with 14 of those coming in the fourth quarter, while shooting 4-for-10 from deep.
Meanwhile, Minnesota has enjoyed a bit more rest after completing a “gentlemen’s sweep” against the Los Angeles Lakers, winning Game 5 on the road 103-96.
Rudy Gobert led his team with a remarkable 27 points and 24 rebounds, both of which were playoff career highs. These helped the Timberwolves secure the upset as 6-point underdogs.
Despite struggling from long range, hitting only 14.9% (7-for-47) from three, they managed to progress to the next round, and the game went under the total points (210.5).
The Timberwolves, who prefer a slower pace, ranked 25th in the NBA in pace and averaged just 107.4 points per game in their series against the Lakers. Their strong defensive play made scoring difficult for Los Angeles.
Conversely, the Warriors just came off a grueling series against the Rockets, characterized by a slow tempo. Their core players—Curry, Green, Butler, and Hield—are all 32 years or older, which may have taken a toll on them.
While Golden State performed admirably on defense, their scoring average also reflected the slow pace of the series. This matchup will likely be a defensive battle with a deliberate tempo, so expect the total points to stay low.
Best Bet: Under 210.5 Points at -110 odds
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
