By The Athletic NBA Staff
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The Minnesota Timberwolves tied the Western Conference semifinal comfortably on Thursday, defeating the Golden State Warriors 117-93 at Target Center.

The Warriors were without star guard Steph Curry, who was ruled out of Game 2 with a Grade 1 hamstring strain.

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The Timberwolves, meanwhile, survived a scare to Anthony Edwards’ left ankle. Edwards was helped to the locker room in the second quarter after driving to the basket and having his shot blocked by Trayce Jackson-Davis. Edwards immediately fell and grabbed his left ankle. He returned at the start of the second half after being deemed questionable to return.

“Feeling great,” Edwards said of his ankle postgame. “Yup, feeling great.”

Julius Randle paced the Timberwolves with 24 points and recorded a postseason career-high 10 assists. Edwards and Nickeil Alexander-Walker each had 20 points.

For the Warriors, Jonathan Kuminga led with 18 points. Jimmy Butler had 17 points and Buddy Hield and Jackson-Davis each scored 15.

Game 3 is Saturday in San Francisco.

The Timberwolves did what they needed to do in Game 2, pulling out the defensive energy to win and even the series. But if they were trying to send a message to the Warriors that they have no chance without Curry, that didn’t happen.

Golden State was within 12 points in the third quarter, and kept hanging around thanks to some poor shot selection and off nights from Edwards and Rudy Gobert on that end of the floor. Edwards was just 6-for-13 for 20 points while playing through a sprained left ankle. Gobert had five points and took four shots. Those numbers should have been much bigger, but he had one of his worst nights with ball security of the season.