The Minnesota Timberwolves have a 3-1 lead over the Warriors entering Game 5, but they can't get too comfortable, especially after the latest Steph Curry update. On Wednesday afternoon, ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk reported that Curry was cleared to participate in "light on-court workouts" and that he'll be re-evaluated before Game 6, if there is one.
Curry strained his hamstring in Game 1, but the Warriors still won, 99-88, despite losing him. They lost Games 2-4 without Curry, and now face their season ending in Game 6 at Target Center on Wednesday.
There is one way for Minnesota to end speculation about whether Curry will play on Saturday: by ensuring there is no Game 6. It's always dangerous to give a team a lifeline by extending the series, but especially dangerous when it could mean the return of the greatest shooter on the planet. The chances of Golden State winning the next three games to advance to the Western Conference Finals might not be high, but look how chaotic the playoffs have been thus far. Anything can happen.
Steph Curry will be re-evaluated before Game 6 (if there is one)
A few months after the Timberwolves traded Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, the Warriors made a team-altering deal. Golden State needed a star to pair alongside Curry — and found one in Jimmy Butler. The Warriors went from being a Play-In Team (at best) to a threat in a stacked Western Conference.
Injuries are part of the game, but that didn't make Curry's injury any less disheartening. It's not an outcome that Minnesota was rooting for, either. The Timberwolves want to beat the Warriors at their best, but Curry's injury doesn't detract from what Minnesota did the past three games to take the 3-1 series lead.
Only three years ago, the Timberwolves won a Play-In Tournament game and celebrated like they won the NBA Finals. It was quite the accomplishment for an organization that hadn't experienced postseason success in so long.
Look at where Minnesota is now. The Timberwolves can advance to the WCF for the second consecutive season with a Game 5 win. They can't think that far ahead, at least not yet. Minnesota still has business to take care of. Please, end it tonight. Don't let Curry's possible return be the spark Golden State needs in Game 6.