Celtics Force Game 6, Timberwolves Advance to Western Conference Finals with Game 5 Win Over Warriors

The Boston Celtics forced a Game 6 in their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series with the New York Knicks by virtue of a convincing 127-102 victory on Wednesday night. In the late game, the Minnesota Timberwolves ended the Golden State Warriors’ season with a 121-110 win in Game 5. 

Derrick White and Jaylen Brown both stepped up, as they will need to do going forward, in the absence of Jayson Tatum. White made 7-of-13 triples for 34 points, and Brown scored 26 points with 12 assists and 8 rebounds on 9-for-17 shooting. Jrue Holiday put up 14 points and 7 rebounds on 5-for-8 shooting, and Al Horford was 5-for-7 for 12 points and 5 rebounds in 24 minutes. Kristaps Porzingis played just 12 minutes going 0-for-3, but Luke Kornet picked up his minutes and performed well - 10 points, 9 rebounds, 7 blocks on 5-for-5 shooting in 26 minutes. Payton Pritchard in 39 minutes scored 17 points on 5-of-14 from deep. 

The Celtics shot 52.4% and got back on track from downtown, hitting 22-of-49. They shot 17-for-26 from the line and outrebounded the Knicks 44-40. 

The Knicks shot just 35.8% from the field, led by Josh Hart’s 24 points and 7 rebounds (7-for-15, 5-for-9 from deep). Jalen Brunson had an off night, missing 10 of his 17 attempts for 22 points and 6 assists. Karl-Anthony Towns was 5-for-11 for 19 points and 8 rebounds. The Knicks shot 12-of-30 from 3-point range and committed 10 turnovers to the Celtics’ 8. They were outscored 68-43 in the second half.

Game 6, which may be considered a must win for the Knicks, goes Friday at 8:00 p.m. from MSG. 

From Target Center, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Golden State Warriors 121-110 in Game 5 to clinch their second consecutive appearance in the Western Conference Finals. It is the third time in franchise history that the Timberwolves will go the Conference Finals, following last season and the 2003-04 club that won 58 games led by MVP Kevin Garnett. 

The Timberwolves led 62-47 at halftime 93-72 after one, but the Warriors cut into the lead, getting the deficit to nine after a Moses Moody triple with 7:11 remaining in the game. Edwards promptly responded with a three and Jaden McDaniels scored a theft of a Quinten Post pass and dunked the ball at the other end to get the lead up to 14, 104-90. From then on, despite the best efforts of Brandin Podziemski (nine fourth quarter points, 28 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 11-for-19, 5-for-7 from downtown for the game), the Warriors could not get it back within 10. 

In the win, Edwards finished with a career-high 12 assists and shot an efficient 8-for-14 on 5-for-8 from downtown, finishing with 22 points and 7 rebounds. Rudy Gobert finished 8-for-9 with 17 points and 8 rebounds in 28 minutes, Mike Conley put up 16 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds in 26 minutes, and Donte DiVincenzo was 5-for-7 for 13 points and 6 assists in 26 minutes. All registered ideal supporting cast performances to Julius Randle’s 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists on 13-for-18 shooting in 42 minutes. For Randle, it was his eighth playoff game of 20+ points. For the series, he averaged 25.2 points, 7.4 assists, and 6.6 rebounds on 53.3% shooting in 38 minutes. He was spectacular all series, upping his numbers from 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in the opening round against the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Jonathan Kuminga played 32 minutes off the bench and scored 26 points on 11-for-23 shooting. In only 27 minutes on average in the series, the 22-year-old shot 54.3% (14 shots per game) for 20.2 points per game. 

Jimmy Butler registered 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists but shot just 4-for-11 from the field. He had an off night, scoring in the teens for the second game in a row as he had 14 in Game 4. He put up 33/7/7 in Game 3 and 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists in Game 1. For the postseason, he averaged 17.6 points on 44.7% shooting. Draymond Green put up 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists on 4-for-11 shooting on Wednesday, while Moses Moody was 2-for-3 from deep for 12 points in 11 minutes. 

The Minnesota offense was scorching in Game 5 as they shot 63.6% from the field and made 13-of-30 triples. They also dished 36 assists to the Warriors’ 21. They made 10-of-15 from the free-throw line to the Warriors’ 21-of-30. The Wolves held the Warriors to 42.7% shooting, and the Warriors shot 11-for-39 from deep. Rebounds were even at 39. 

As mentioned, the Timberwolves are heading to their second consecutive Western Conference Final and third in franchise history. They are a complete team with shooters, defenders, and good interior play. 

For the Warriors, this is a disappointing end to a season that had title expectations especially since they acquired Butler in February and went on a run where they were the hottest team in the league. Unfortunately, Stephen Curry’s injury understandably impacted the team greatly. On a positive note, it gave Kuminga and Podziemski, two talented youngsters who could be a vital part of the Warriors’ future, a chance to show his skills in front of a national audience. A healthy Warriors’ team in 2025-26 is still a dangerous squad.