Jimmy Butler, Warriors
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Golden State opened as a 10.5-point underdog in Minneapolis for Game 5, per ESPN BET. The betting outlook has since gotten worse for the Warriors, who are now 11.5-point underdogs less than 24 hours from tipoff at the Target Center.
The Warriors credited the Wolves and avoided excuses but acknowledged the impact of injuries to Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler as their season ended.
After the Warriors’ Game 1 win, Butler averaged 20.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, five assists and one steal per game while shooting 45.8% from the field in Curry’s absence during the final four games of the playoff series. Butler totaled just 31 points on 20 field-goal attempts in Games 4 and 5 after scoring 33 points on 26 shots in Game 3 of the series.
The Warriors stayed within reasonable striking distance of Minnesota until late in the second quarter. After Draymond Green scored five points to cut the deficit to just six with 2:20 left in the half, the Wolves closed the quarter on a 9-0 run fueled by a Randle dunk and and-1 layup. Minnesota led 62-47 at the half.