Warriors vs. Timberwolves Picks and Prediction – 5/8/2025

Golden State Warriors (44-38) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (56-26)
Time: 8:30 PM ET
Location: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
TV: TNT, truTV, Max

Previous Games:

  • Warriors: Won Game 1, 99-88

  • Timberwolves: Shot just 17.2% from deep in the loss

Head-to-Head:

Golden State surprised Minnesota in Game 1 with a gritty defensive effort despite Stephen Curry leaving in the first half. The Warriors lead the series 1-0 and are now 4-1 ATS in their last five against the Timberwolves.

Golden State Warriors Breakdown:

Golden State’s Game 1 win was powered by Buddy Hield’s 24 points and a strong two-way performance from Jimmy Butler III (20 pts, 11 rebs, 8 asts). The Warriors are scoring just 104.0 PPG in the playoffs but have managed to limit opponents to under 90 points in back-to-back games.

Stephen Curry is day-to-day after injuring his hamstring in Game 1. Without him, the Warriors are expected to slow the pace even further and rely on half-court sets and disciplined defense.

Key Players:

  • Buddy Hield: 24 points in Game 1

  • Jimmy Butler III: Averaging 18.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG in the playoffs

Minnesota Timberwolves Breakdown:

Minnesota couldn’t get into rhythm offensively in Game 1, shooting 39.5% from the field and a brutal 17.2% from three. Anthony Edwards had 23 points but needed 22 shots, and Julius Randle struggled to find his spots.

Despite the loss, Minnesota has been strong at home, where they've covered the point total of 201.5 in 9 of their last 10 games. Expect the Timberwolves to adjust with better ball movement and improved rebounding after being outboarded 51-41 in Game 1.

Key Players:

  • Anthony Edwards: 26.3 PPG, 6.1 APG in playoffs

  • Rudy Gobert: 9.8 RPG, key rim protector

  • Julius Randle: 22.6 PPG in postseason

Betting Trends:

Golden State Warriors:

  • 4-1 ATS in last 5 vs. Minnesota

  • UNDER in 5 of last 6 road games

Minnesota Timberwolves:

  • UNDER in 9 of last 12 overall

  • 19 of last 20 home games have gone OVER the 201.5 line

Exact Score Prediction:

Minnesota Timberwolves 102 – Golden State Warriors 95

Our Best Bet:

UNDER 201.5 (-110)

With Curry either out or limited and Golden State already favoring a slow pace, expect a similar tempo to Game 1. Both teams struggled offensively in the series opener, and while Minnesota may score more efficiently in Game 2, the Warriors are likely to drag possessions out to limit exposure. The UNDER has hit in 14 of the last 18 combined games involving these teams — this number is just too high given current pace and health conditions.

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