Latest news with #BuddyHield
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dubs Talk: Can Warriors' aging trio make run at 2026 NBA title?
Warriors vs Timberwolves Game HIghlights The Golden State Warriors defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 99-88, in Game 1 of Conference Semifinals. Top Performers – Golden State Buddy Hield led the Warriors with 24 points, 5 3PM and 8 rebounds Jimmy Butler added 20 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists Draymond Green – 18 points, 4 3PM, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals Stephen Curry – 13 points, 3 3PM Left the game in the 1H with a hamstring injury Top Performers – Minnesota Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Naz Reid – 19 points, 5 rebounds, 3 3PM Julius Randle – 18 points, 6 assists Golden State now leads the best-of-seven series 1-0. Game 2 will take place on Thursday, May 8 at 8:30 p.m. EST on TNT. Conference Semifinals History – First Time All Series Start w/ Road Wins With the Warriors win tonight in Game 1, all four road teams have now won Game 1 of the Conference Semifinals .It marks THE FIRST TIME that the road team has won all four Game 1s of a Division or Conference Semifinals in NBA Playoff history. The above stat also means it's the first time the Conf. Semis have started with 5 straight road wins. 1:28 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Buddy Hield on being part of Golden State Warriors: 'Happiest I've ever been playing basketball'
Image credit: Getty Images Buddy Hield is a happy man, soaking in every moment of his first NBA season with the Golden State Warriors . The team lost to Minnesota Timberwolves 121-110 but his energy and dedication have been commendable. While the season had its share of highs and lows, Hield continued to push his game forward — and he did it with a big smile. Buddy Hield is happy to play for Golden State Warriors Buddy Hield joined the Golden State Warriors last offseason in a multi-team sign-and-trade deal that sent franchise legend Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks. The move brought the veteran guard from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Bay Area. On Thursday, Hield spoke to reporters during the team's end-of-season press conference, reflecting on his debut year with Golden State. "This is the happiest I've ever been playing basketball, and I tell the guys 'This season went by so fast' because of how much fun I had, there was a lot of joy being around Steve [Kerr] and his group, being around the players, the training staff," Hield said as per "They all made me feel welcome. And I feel like it went by so fast, and most teams I've been on, it feels like it's very long, like 'When am I getting out of here?' This organization, I never felt one day I was like, 'I can't wait for summer.' I'm like really mad I have to go enjoy summer because basketball was so fun," he added. Hield made a strong start to the season but experienced a dip in form during the middle stretch. In 82 regular-season games (11 starts), he averaged 11.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 41.7 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc. He stepped up in the playoffs, appearing in all 12 of Golden State's postseason games and averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists on 41.6 percent shooting from the field and an impressive 42.9 percent from three-point range. "Meaningful basketball was so fun. Preparing every day for the playoff game was fun. And I really enjoyed being here, man," Hield said. Also Read: 'They only had to win one': Fans react after Golden State Warriors' Playoff exit as Stephen Curry says everything was aligned for Game 6 Julius Randle scored 29 points on an efficient 13-of-18 shooting night to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves past the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 on Wednesday, securing their second consecutive trip to the Western Conference Finals . Anthony Edwards added 22 points and dished out 12 assists for the sixth-seeded Timberwolves, who now await the winner of the Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder series.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Warriors Teammate Responds to Pressure of Filling Stephen Curry Role
There has been an empty hole in the absence of Golden State Warriors' superstar Stephen Curry. Curry has been out since suffering a hamstring strain in the first half of Game 1 of the series between the Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round. Advertisement It's been a natural problem as Curry is one of those players that really aren't replaceable and the Warriors have lost both games that the franchise star has been absent in. Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts during a Taormina-Imagn Images Players and coaches have taken interviews leading up to Game 4 between the two teams and questions have been asked about Curry's presence on the court. Buddy Hield responds to the pressure he holds with Steph Curry injury As there are plenty of players on the Warriors with the sharpshooting ability, guard Buddy Hield spoke with the press on Sunday in regard to Curry and his presence. "Nobody is able to cover for Steph Curry and what he does. If you coming in thinking you can fill his role, you're crazy, he does so much for his team. He's touched by an angel, he's touched by God, he's blessed," Hield said when speaking on his teammate. Hield's been able to step up his game in the second round, averaging 17.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 52% from three in the series against the Timberwolves. Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30).Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images But when such an impactful player like Curry is taken out of the game, there's only ways to adjust rather than replacing. Advertisement The earliest we may see Curry come back from his hamstring strain will be in Game 6, but even with a timeline like that it's hard to tell if he will be returning in full strength. The absence of Curry has been evident, as his averages this postseason include 22.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists. Game 4 between the Warriors and Timberwolves will be on Monday, May 12.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"Buddy Hield was the addition, now he is the mission" - Lou Williams believes the Warriors have enough depth to make up for Curry's absence
The NBA playoffs are no place for experimentation, as one wrong move can shift the momentum and change the outcomes of a series. Yet with Stephen Curry sidelined due to a hamstring injury for multiple games, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr decided to use a bold approach, playing 14 players in the first half of Game 2. While many saw this as an act of desperation, Lou Williams viewed this as a calculated decision. According to the three-time Sixth Man of the Year, Kerr looked for someone who could handle intense playoff pressure to hand them more responsibility in high-stakes scenarios. Moreover, he feels it is time for Buddy Hield to step up and attain the spotlight that his talent warrants. Williams on the importance of Buddy Hield After the Warriors were blown out by 24 points in Game 2 without Curry, many feel that the situation will only worsen as the series heads to San Francisco for the next two games. Advertisement However, Lou believes Kerr sacrificed Game 2 strategically, not only to wave the white flag but to identify which players can be leaned on moving forward. Thus, he did not hesitate to use 14 players in a half, a scenario that had happened for the first time since 1998 in the playoffs. Speaking on the "Run It Back" show, Williams also highlighted how it is time for Hield to take a more serious role. Like how he took over the offensive reins for the team in Game 7 against the Rockets, he needs to take more accountability and responsibility to lead them to victory. "Honestly, I think Golden State keeps this thing interesting. What Steve Kerr is trying to figure out by playing so many guys, he's trying to figure out who I can lean on, who can I trust, with Steph Curry being out. Now in the next game, I expect that lineup to be sharpened up a little bit, like an eight to nine-man rotation where he can figure out - this guy or that guy - can help me," Williams said. "With Steph Curry out, Jimmy, Draymond back in the lineup still… Buddy Hield - there's a difference between an addition and being the mission. Buddy was the addition, now he is the mission. He's gonna make his adjustments with the way he's being guarded," the retired guard added. Advertisement Related: "Their egos are huge, and I don't bow down to people like that" - Pippen says he'll never be able to forgive Jordan and Jackson Hield needs to support Butler Though highly capable, Jimmy Butler has only had one 35-point game in the 2024-25 regular season. Expecting him to drop 40 on command isn't realistic. Instead, the six-time All-Star can make his presence felt with a well-rounded performance, perhaps a 20-point triple-double, and focus on neutralizing threats like Julius Randle or Jaden McDaniels on defense. That's where Hield's scoring punch becomes even more vital. Kerr has long built his reputation as a high-IQ coach unafraid to make bold, calculated moves — even when they spark initial skepticism. One key storyline to watch is how he distributes minutes to Jonathan Kuminga and Kevon Looney, who could play pivotal roles down the stretch. Advertisement Moreover, given how well the Championship coach has led this young team this far in the campaign, do not rule him out just yet, as Lou surely believes he is about to pull another rabbit out of a hat. Related: "Sometimes you get them right" - Warriors owner Joe Lacob admits he had concerns regarding acquiring Jimmy Butler
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA playoffs: Timberwolves surge past Warriors late to take 2-1 series lead after Draymond Green fouls out
The Minnesota Timberwolves persevered Saturday night in a tight affair against the Golden State Warriors, capitalizing on Draymond Green fouling out with 4:38 remaining in the fourth quarter to win 102-97 and take a 2-1 lead in the West semifinal series. Minnesota led by two with less than five minutes remaining in the game when Green was called for his sixth foul as Jaden McDaniels attacked the basket. Draymond fouls out in the final minutes of Game 3 😬(via @espn) — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 11, 2025 From there, the Timberwolves pushed their lead to as many as nine to fend off some hot shooting late from Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga. After another sluggish start for Minnesota star Anthony Edwards, the guard came alive in the fourth quarter, hitting three 3-pointers as part of 13 points in the frame. Edwards finished with 36 points on 13-of-28 shooting. Minnesota took an early lead, but a 9-0 run from the Warriors tied the score at 21 after one quarter. The two teams kept things close, with Golden State pulling ahead for a 42-40 halftime lead. With Curry sidelined, the Warriors' usual threat from beyond the arc was missing. The team didn't hit its first 3-pointer until the start of the third quarter after shooting 0 of 5 from distance in the first half. Golden State finished 10 of 23 from 3, but for most of the game the Warriors depended on dominance in the paint. Before Edwards and the Wolves took control, it looked like the Warriors' Jimmy Butler and Kuminga would be the story of the game. The much-maligned Kuminga, who has played sparingly this postseason, scored 30 off the bench with three 3-pointers and six rebounds. Playoff Jimmy made an appearance in Game 3 with 33 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, and also hitting two 3s for good measure. But Edwards and Julius Randle had the last laugh. Randle put up 24 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists, playing forcefully down the stretch as Minnesota imposed its will. After shocking the Timberwolves in Game 1 and then getting routed in Game 2, the Warriors returned home with a chance to take the series lead. But Golden State lost a grind of a game, and now perhaps has more questions than answers. The two teams will return to the Chase Center on Monday for Game 4.
