Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr provided his thoughts after his team’s 102-97 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of their second-round playoff series. Despite holding a five-point lead with just over eight minutes remaining, the Warriors could not hold off a late surge from the Timberwolves, who outscored them 33-24 in the final period to secure the win.
Kerr highlighted a critical stretch that he believes changed the momentum of the game. “I think Edwards had one out of the corner. Reid… there was a big sequence where Jimmy had a shot at the rim. It looked like he was going to convert it, looked like he might have gotten fouled, but then they went the other way, got an offensive board, and Reid hit the three from the corner. I thought that was the sequence that really shifted the game and the momentum,” Kerr said.
Draymond Green’s foul trouble also played a significant role in the outcome. Kerr noted his frustration with the officiating during Green’s fourth foul. “We felt pretty strongly that the one on, uh, I think it was his fourth, on the block. They called the block. It looked like Randle went through his chest, and so we felt pretty good about challenging him, plus it was his fourth. But obviously, it didn’t work out. That’s part of the game. Randle was great. The sixth one was a tough one. Didn’t feel great looking at the replay, but it is what it is,” Kerr said.
While Green’s foul struggles were significant, Kerr also praised the efforts of his players, particularly Jonathan Kuminga. “He was brilliant. JK played one of the best games of his life. It was fantastic to see. You can see how necessary he is in this matchup, especially without Steph,” Kerr said. Kuminga’s 30 points off the bench were one of the few bright spots for Golden State, who struggled with offensive flow in the absence of Stephen Curry.
Looking ahead, Kerr remains confident despite the setback. “We’re right there. We feel great about our chances. This is what the playoffs are all about—emotional swings, momentum shifts,” he said. “We just have to take tomorrow off, get the guys refreshed and recharged, and come back Monday and tee it up again.”
Kerr also reflected on the importance of defense, which he had stressed before the game. “The team defense was really good. We held them to 102; that’s a pretty good number. But Randle and Edwards really got going in the second half. We couldn’t quite contain them, especially in the fourth,” he added.
As the Warriors look to bounce back in Game 4, Kerr’s message is clear: “We’re really close. I liked where we were. We just couldn’t finish.”
