Randle, Edwards bumida sa pagbawi ng T-Wolves sa Warriors

MINNEAPOLIS - Sinamantala ng Minnesota Timber­wolves ang hindi paglalaro ni NBA three-point king Stephen Curry para resbakan ang Golden State Warriors, 117-93, sa Game 2 at itabla sa 1-1 ang kanilang Western Conference best-of-seven semifinal series.

Humakot si forward Julius Randle ng 24 points, 11 assists at 7 rebounds, habang kumolekta si Anthony Edwards ng 20 points at 9 rebounds para sa Timberwolves.

Nagdagdag si Nickeil Alexander-Walker ng 20 points mula sa bench, kasama rito ang apat na three-pointers.

“We watched film yesterday and we saw it wasn’t just that we didn’t make our shots -- it was more so our de­fensive effort and intensity. We didn’t bring it,” sabi ni Ed­wards. “So we knew we had to bring it today.”

Nagkaroon si Edwards ng ankle problem sa second period, ngunit nagbalik din sa third quarter.

Pinamunuan ni Jonathan Kuminga ang opensa ng Warriors sa kanyang 18 points kasunod ang 17 markers ni star guard Jimmy Butler.

Inaasahang isang linggong magpapahinga ang 37-anyos na si Curry matapos magkaroon ng left ham­string injury sa panalo ng Golden State sa Game 1

“We’re trying to figure out what we’re gonna be able to do in this series without Steph, so we gave a lot of people a lot of chances,” ani head coach Steve Kerr.

Kaagad kinuha ng Minnesota ang 25-7 abante pa­tungo sa pagpoposte ng 56-39 halftime lead.

Napababa ito ng Warriors sa 55-62 sa huling pitong minuto ng third period sa likod nina Kuminga at Butler.

Ngunit muling nakalayo ang Timberwolves sa inihulog na 20-5 bomba para isara ang nasabing yugto bitbit ang 85-65 kalamangan patungo sa fourth quarter.

“I thought we made a really spirited run to get the lead down to seven, but then we just kind of lost a little bit of composure. We turned it over a couple of times, gave up a couple of threes when we lost our defensive connection,” paliwanag ni Kerr.