Golden State Warriors vs Minnesota Timberwolves

Requiring just one more victory to secure their place in the Western Conference semi-finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves face off against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday evening.

Only 13 teams have managed to overcome a 3-1 deficit to claim a playoff series, and Minnesota is confident in their ability to reach consecutive finals, as the team leading 3-1 has advanced in 280 of the last 293 instances.

The Minnesota Timberwolves will enter Game 5 without 20-year-old guard Rob Dillingham, who has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury during the April 9 game against the Brooklyn Nets.

Unless any last-minute fitness issues arise, Dillingham is the sole injury concern for the Timberwolves heading into Thursday’s matchup, leaving coach Finch with a nearly complete roster to work with.

On Monday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves took a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference semi-final series against the Golden State Warriors, powering to a 117-110 win at the Chase Center.

The game remained tightly contested with nine lead changes until the third quarter, when a 21-2 surge by the Timberwolves caused the Warriors to lose their grip, falling to a 3-1 deficit in the series.

Julius Randle continued his scoring spree at the Chase Center, dropping a playoff-career-high 30 points to pace the Timberwolves, while Anthony Edwards added 30 points, including 16 in a pivotal third-quarter performance.

After falling in Game 1 on May 7, losing 99-88 at home, Chris Finch’s squad has rallied to win the next three games, taking a 3-1 series lead and positioning themselves strongly for a second straight conference final berth.

Two nights ago, the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks played at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks won 121-113.

For the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns pulled down 23 points and 11 rebounds, Mikal Bridges scored 23 points, and Jalen Brunson had 39 points and 12 assists. Derrick White scored 23, Jaylen Brown scored 20, and Jayson Tatum scored 42 points for the Celtics.

Six of the last ten head-to-head encounters have been won by the Celtics.

When the Timberwolves return to the Target Center on Wednesday, they will be rooting for victory because they have won eight of their past nine games, with the exception of their loss to the Warriors in Game 1.

In order to join the 13 teams who have overcome a 3-1 deficit to win a postseason series, Steve Kerr's squad must win its next three games, putting them on the verge of yet another playoff exit.

The Warriors' semi-final collapse has coincided with the absence of franchise hero Stephen Curry, who has been out since Game 1 after the team barely defeated the Houston Rockets 4-3 in the first round of the playoffs.

Jonathan Kuminga led the Golden States with 23 points on 6-of-13 shooting, while Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green both scored 14 points, building on a 30-point performance in Game 4 two nights prior.

The Warriors will try to rally and salvage their slender hopes, but they have had a difficult playoffs on hostile territory, dropping three of their last five games since defeating the Rockets 95-85 in Game 1 of the first-round series.