Needing one more win to book their spot in the Western Conference semi-finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves go head to head with the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.
Only 13 teams have fought back from a 3-1 deficit to win a playoff series and Minnesota will be backing themselves to reach back-to-back finals as the side to go 3-1 up has progressed to the next round in 280 of the last 293 occasions.
Match preview
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The Minnesota Timberwolves will head into Game 5 without the services of 20-year-old guard Rob Dillingham, who has been out of action since sustaining an ankle injury against the Brooklyn Nets on April 9.
Barring any late fitness concerns, Dillingham remains the only injury concern for the Timberwolves' heading into Thursday's clash, giving coach Finch a relatively full house at his disposal.
The Minnesota Timberwolves went two up in their Western Conference semi-final clash against the Golden State Warriors on Monday night as they stormed to a 117-110 victory at the Chase Center.
It was a back-and-forth affair up until the third quarter, with nine lead changes between the two teams, but a 21-2 run from the Timberwolves saw the Warriors let go of the rope and fall 3-1 behind in the series.
Julius Randle's hot hands continued at the Chase Center as he knocked down a playoff-high 30 points to lead the Timberwolves, while guard Anthony Edwards finished with 30 points, 16 of which came in a clutch third-quarter display.
Having dropped game one on May 7, when they lost 99-88 in Minnesota, Chris Finch's men have now won the subsequent three games in the series, going 3-1 up to put themselves well on course for a second consecutive conference final appearance.
The Timberwolves will be backing themselves to get the job done on Wednesday as they return to the Target Center, where they are on a run of eight wins from their last nine games — with the Game 1 defeat to the Warriors being the exception.
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Steve Kerr's side now find themselves on the cusp of yet another playoff exit as they need to win all remaining three games to join just 13 teams to have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a playoff series.
Having scraped a 4-3 victory over the Houston Rockets in the playoffs opening round, the Warriors' collapse in the semis has coincided with the absence of franchise star Stephen Curry, who has been sidelined since Game 1.
Off the back of a 30-point display in Game 4 two nights earlier, Jonathan Kuminga notched 23 points on 6-of-13 shooting to lead the Golden States, while Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green knocked down 14 apiece.
While the Warriors will look to pull one back and keep their slim chances alive, they have struggled on enemy territory in the postseason, losing three of their most recent five matches since claiming a 95-85 win in Game 1 of the first-round series against the Rockets.
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Team News
© Imago
The Minnesota Timberwolves will head into Game 5 without the services of 20-year-old guard Rob Dillingham, who has been out of action since sustaining an ankle injury against the Brooklyn Nets on April 9.
Barring any late fitness concerns, Dillingham remains the only injury concern for the Timberwolves' heading into Thursday's clash, giving coach Finch a relatively full house at his disposal.
As for the Golden State Warriors, Stephen Curry has missed each of the last three games since coming off with a hamstring injury midway through Game 1 against the Timberwolves last week.
Curry's absence has been a major blow for the Warriors and his chances of making it back in time is on thin ice, with his expected return date set for May 18 at the earliest possible time.
Despite missing each of the last three games, the veteran guard remains the leading scorer for the Warriors with 24.5 points per game, with their next-best scorers being Butler (17.5) and Kuminga (15.3)
Minnesota Timberwolves possible starting 5:
Conley, Edwards, Gobert, Randle, McDaniels
Golden State Warriors possible starting 5:
Podziemski, Hield, Green, Post, Butler
We say: The Minnesota Timberwolves to win by 7+ points.
Joshua Ojele
