It’s Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA playoffs Western Conference semifinals.
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Stephen Curry vs. Anthony Edwards. Jimmy Butler vs. one of his former teams. Draymond Green vs. Rudy Gobert.
Those are just some the juicy storylines that already exist before the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves tip off in their series in the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs. There is plenty to chew on when the top two contenders to challenge the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder based on odds meet in the Western Conference semifinals beginning Tuesday with Game 1.
It’s a rare matchup between the No. 6 and No. 7 seeds after the Timberwolves upset the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, and the Warriors got past the Houston Rockets in Game 7 in the first round. The two teams didn’t play one another in the regular season after Golden State traded for Butler in February.
Though Curry and the Warriors’ reassembled core with Butler and Green have the experience edge over Minnesota, the Timberwolves’ powerful front court and recent momentum, combined with Edwards’ burgeoning star power, have convinced experts and oddsmakers that they are the favorite to return to the conference finals.
Here’s a look at the updated odds, predictions and picks ahead of Game 1 between the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals of the 2025 NBA playoffs:
Warriors vs. Timberwolves predictions: Picks for NBA playoffs conference semifinals
USA TODAY Sports: Everybody picks Minnesota
All four NBA experts at USA TODAY Sports picked the Minnesota Timberwolves to beat the Golden State Warriors in their 2025 NBA playoffs series. Reporters Lorenzo Reyes and James Williams have the Timberwolves winning in six games, while USA TODAY Sports NBA editor Heather Tucker and reporter Jeff Zillgitt each have Minnesota advancing in seven games over Golden State.
The Oklahoman: Timberwolves in six
“Golden State struggled when Houston went big with Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams. It’s now tasked with facing a Minnesota team that has Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert, plus Naz Reid off the bench. The Timberwolves’ size will present problems. And unlike the Rockets, who lack a consistent closer, Anthony Edwards is more than capable of taking over down the stretch.”
NBA.com: Minnesota in six games
“When the playoffs reach this stage, there’s a formula that often rings true: The team with the best player wins. In this case, it’s hard to argue against Edwards, even when he’s sharing the floor with Curry. There’s also another trend: The hottest team wins. Again, advantage Timberwolves. Both teams beat higher seeds to arrive here, but the Wolves looked more impressive. And with their defense, depth and Ant, they look amped enough to return to the conference finals.”
Warriors vs. Timberwolves Game 1 odds
The Minnesota Timberwolves are favorites to take a 1-0 lead over the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals series, according to BetMGM (odds as of 4:45 p.m. ET on Monday, May 5):
- Spread: Timberwolves (-7.5)
- Moneyline: Timberwolves (-285); Warriors (+250)
- Over/under: 209.5
Warriors vs. Timberwolves series odds
The Minnesota Timberwolves enter Game 1 as the favorite to advance in their Western Conference semifinals series over the Golden State Warriors.
- Series winner: Timberwolves (-180); Warriors (+150)
Watch Warriors-Timberwolves Game 1 with Sling TV
Warriors vs. Timberwolves: NBA playoffs schedule, time, TV channel, live streaming
The Western Conference semifinals series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors begins with Game 1 on Tuesday, May 6 at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The game will be broadcast nationally on TNT and truTV and can be streamed via Sling TV and Max.
Here’s the updated schedule for Warriors vs. Timberwolves. All times listed are Eastern.
- Game 1: Warriors at Timberwolves | Tuesday, May 6 | 9:30 p.m. | TNT, truTV, Max, Sling TV
- Game 2: Warriors at Timberwolves | Thursday, May 8 | 8:30 p.m. | TNT, tru TV, Max, Sling TV
- Game 3: Timberwolves at Warriors | Saturday, May 10 | TBD | ABC, Fubo
- Game 4: Timberwolves at Warriors | Monday, May 12 | TBD | ESPN, Fubo
- Game 5: Warriors at Timberwolves | TBD | TBD*
- Game 6: Timberwolves at Warriors | TBD | TBD*
- Game 7: Warriors at Timberwolves | TBD | TBD*
*if necessary
