NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS: TIMBERWOLVES VS WARRIORS

May 10, 2025

Steve Kerr

Golden State Warriors

Game 3 - Postgame Media Conference

Minnesota Timberwolves 102, Golden State Warriors 97

Q. You were up five with eight minutes left. What did you see happening down the stretch? Was it a case of your guys tiring out a little after playing so hard for so long?

STEVE KERR: I felt like a couple of offensive rebounds for them turned into threes. I think Edwards had one out of the Corner. Reid, there's a big sequence where Jimmy had a shot at the where I am. Looked like he was going to convert it. Looked like he might have gotten fouled and they went the other way and got an offensive board and read and hit the three from the corner.

I thought that was the sequence that really shifted the game and the momentum. 13 offensive boards for them, 26 points that. Was a big factor in the fourth.

Q. Draymond's six fouls, obviously played a major factor. I think two of them were challenged, one by you, one by them and the sixth one late. What did you see there and what did you think of his game overall?

STEVE KERR: Yeah, we felt pretty strongly that the one on, I think it was his fourth on the block, it looked like Randle went through his chest and so we felt pretty good about challenging and plus it was his fourth. But obviously we didn't get the call and that's part of the game. But Randle was great, and foul trouble, and the sixth one was a tough one. That didn't feel great looking at the replay but it is what it is and they outplayed us in the fourth and they deserved to win.

Q. How would you describe Jimmy Butler's play tonight? He said if he needs to go score 40, he might be able to do it. Did you see him carrying an extra load?

STEVE KERR: Man, Jimmy was incredible. He really controlled the game for us and put us in a position to win and we just couldn't close it out. But he was brilliant all night.

Q. Did JK figure something last game? What do you think of his performance tonight?

STEVE KERR: 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. We're having a tough time getting free, and he's obviously capable of giving us some points, getting to the rim and I thought he was fantastic.

I've said it a couple times to you guys, I've just been impressed with the way he's handled things the last couple weeks and the way he's stayed ready and put in the work and it paid offan tonight.

Q. We know Brandin does so many things well, besides scoring, he led the team in rebounds tonight. But how much do you need his offense and his scoring, especially with Steph out?

STEVE KERR: Well, you know, if things bounce the other way, and we're in here with a win, nobody cares that he didn't score a lot.

So when the game goes in one direction or the other, it's easy to look at different stats or different things.

He's not a big scorer. He's a basketball player. He does a lot of great things out there. I thought he played really well tonight. The shots didn't go, but I'm confident they will go in Game 4.

Q. You mentioned pregame you have to win the game with your defense. What did you think about the collective team defense?

STEVE KERR: The team defense was really good. Held them to 102. That's a pretty good number. But Randle and Edwards really both got going in the second half and that was the key. We couldn't quite contain them, especially in the fourth, and that was the difference.

Q. What's going to have to go right for you on Monday to make sure you don't go back to Minneapolis?

STEVE KERR: Not that much, really. We're right there. We feel great about our chances. This is what the playoffs are all about. There's these emotional swings and momentum shifts and we've just got to take tomorrow off and get the guys refreshed, recharged and come back in Monday and tee it up again.

Q. Jimmy and Jonathan combined for 63 points. What do you think about them being on the floor together and complementing each other?

STEVE KERR: They played great. We had combinations out there that probably had not been out there the entire season, starting Trayce, and playing the groups together that we did.

But I think we found some good combinations, and Jimmy and Draymond were both fantastic and obviously played a lot of minutes together and good a great job.

Q. You only got up 23 threes. Obviously no Steph, creates issues there. Are you just going to have to find a way to create more or is this the style?

STEVE KERR: It's hard to generate threes. You have to gain an advantage and get rotations. It's hard for us to do without Steph, without our point guard and pick-and-rolls.

Jimmy obviously is creating plenty but it's different. It's not the same level of stretching the defense out like Steph does.

So we've got to find ways to score more, to try to generate more shots, and we'll look at the tape and figure that out.

Q. You talked about looking for the formula without Steph, mixing and matching and you've spent a lot of time on this. How close do you think you are?

STEVE KERR: Really close. I felt good about the way the game went tonight. We just couldn't close it out. Again, give them credit. They made all the plays in the fourth and Randle and Edwards really got going, and we just couldn't quite overcome them once we got down.

But we controlled much of that game, and up six or whatever it was, eight minutes to go, I liked where we were. We just couldn't finish. The formula looks good. We'll have some adjustments to make. But I like the matchup. I like what we're doing.

Q. Steve, beyond his scoring, what about the way Jonathan played? Seemed like a couple times he cut to the basket off the ball to get passes and I know talked to him about figuring it out back in January. Do you feel like you saw that and how difficult is that given how little he's played recently?

STEVE KERR: Like I said, he's kept himself ready. He's done a great job of working on his conditioning, playing in the low-minute games, and you know, didn't play a whole lot in the Houston series but he's clearly finding his groove and his rhythm now and just in time.

Q. You mentioned getting their offense going, what does picking up the fall for Draymond have?

STEVE KERR: That was huge. That was a really big deal. It's part of the game. Foul trouble, injuries, all that stuff. None of it matters. You have to find a way.

Q. Did you notice them attacking you differently with him off the court?

STEVE KERR: No.

Q. You mentioned earlier that you have to manufacture more offense, but with Steph out, you went to a lineup that had two non-shooters and Brandin is struggling right now. Where do you find the offense from if Buddy is not making shots? Where does it come from?

STEVE KERR: Well, that's the trick. We've got to put our best two-way lineups on the floor. I think we're going to win the series with defense. We're not going to beat them in a skill game. We have to get stops to win the series. Without Steph, obviously we are a totally different team.

If we can get stops and run, create some offense off of our defense, that's part of the formula.

Q. Julius Randle has taken a very different role in this series versus past series and past games. He's taken a lot more ball handling and a lot more passing, 11 assists the last two games. How are you planning on adjusting to make sure that his passing impact --

STEVE KERR: Well, we'll watch the tape tomorrow and figure it out, and we won't tell you. So we'll save that for Monday.