Warriors waste huge Jimmy Butler effort and their best shot to steal a win without Steph Curry
CBSN
Butler just didn't get enough help as Minnesota took a 2-1 lead
There was a line of thinking that Jimmy Butler didn't put his foot on the gas in Golden State's Game 2 loss to the Timberwolves because he was saving up his energy for Game 3 at home, when the Warriors were likely to have their best shot to steal the one win they need in this series to stay afloat until Stephen Curry can potentially get back.
Whether that was an actual plan or Butler was just being his frustratingly passive self in Game 2, it worked pretty much to perfection as Butler came out as aggressive as anyone has seen him in a Golden State uniform, putting 33 points on the board in Game 3.
It wasn't enough. Minnesota, behind a monster second half from Anthony Edwards and another fantastic playoff showing from Julius Randle, pulled away late for a 102-97 win to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
