Warriors vs Timberwolves Free Pick, NBA Free Picks, NBA Predictions 5/8/25
J.A. Cavalier- May 8
- 3 min read
GOLDEN STATE @ MINNESOTA (MIN -6.5, 209.5)
NBA ODDS, NBA PREDICTIONS, NBA PREVIEWS
WARRIORS @ TWOLVES 5/6/25
Stephen Curry won’t play tonight. Golden State is hopeful they can continue to make shots like they did in Game 1 against Minnesota.
The Warriors will face the Timberwolves tonight in Game 2 in their first test without Curry for a full game. Golden State is up 1-0 in the Western Conference semifinals and is looking to steal another road victory.
Beating the TWolves on their home floor again without Curry for the full game will be a huge task. Curry had 13 points in 13 minutes in Game 1. He left the game with a hamstring injury. He is expected to be out for at least a week.
Curry hasn’t missed a playoff game since 2018. It was also in the Western Conference semifinals. Since Curry was drafted by Golden State in 2009, the Warriors are 104-51 with him in the lineup. They are 8-3 without him.
The acquisition of Jimmy Butler has made it easier on Curry and Golden State. Butler was acquired via a trade at the deadline. In Game 1, Butler finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists. He will be a big key for the Warriors tonight.
Minnesota would like to even the series before it heads to San Francisco for Games 3 and 4. After there 5-day layoff, the TWolves looked rusty. Leading scorer Anthony Edwards had just one point in the first half before finishing with 23. The Timberwolves fell behind by as many as 23 before losing 99-91 in Game 1.
Edwards only shot 9 of 22 and made one 3-pointer in Game 1. His teammates Donte DiVincenzo (3 of 11) and Mike Conley (0 of 5) weren’t much better. Julius Randle added 18 points but had just 3 rebounds.
The Warriors will need to get more from Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski. Hield had 24 points in the series opener. Podziemski hit just 1 of 7 shots from the field and 1 of 5 from three-point.
Get free NBA Picks and NBA Predictions for the top games on the weekly 2025 NBA schedule from JA Cavalier, one of the industry's premier expert NBA handicappers. J.A. Cavalier has been bringing the NBA betting community the best NBA free picks and predictions for nearly three decades. Visit daily for the best NBA moneyline and run line odds and game totals.
FREE PICKS:
Timberwolves -10.5
The Timberwolves are expected to bounce back after their poor shooting performance in Game 1. They’ve gone 9-5 ATS at home since Julius Randle’s return in March and should capitalize on Curry’s absence. Minnesota’s defense, led by Rudy Gobert, will likely stifle the Warriors’ offense, which lacks a consistent secondary scorer.
Game Total Under 201.5
Both teams struggled offensively in Game 1, combining for just 184 points. With Curry out and the Timberwolves’ defense ranked 2nd in the playoffs in defensive efficiency, this game is likely to remain low-scoring.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 3.5 Rebounds + Assists
Alexander-Walker has hit this line in 84% of his games this season and has averaged 5.75 rebounds + assists over his last 20 games. Despite a tough matchup against the Warriors’ defense, his versatility and consistent production make this a strong pick.
