The Golden State Warriors found themselves in a challenging situation during their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the absence of Stephen Curry and with Draymond Green facing foul trouble. Despite these obstacles, they maintained a five-point lead in the fourth quarter and were optimistic about taking the series lead at home.

Until Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle took over for the Timberwolves in crunch time.

Anthony Edwards made a crucial three-point shot from the baseline with just over a minute left in the game, contributing 36 points, while Julius Randle added 24 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. This impressive performance helped the Wolves secure a 102-97 victory over the Warriors, giving them a 2-1 lead in the playoff series.

Although Jimmy Butler excelled for the Warriors with 33 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds, and Jonathan Kuminga delivered 30 points off the bench, the team struggled to find their usual momentum without Curry on the court.

“Obviously with Steph out there, he demands two to three bodies when he’s out there on the floor,” Butler said. “When he’s not, there’s no room for error. You can’t make mistakes. You can’t turn the ball over. You can’t give back all of those things. And then you’ve got to take the right shots.”

Kuminga shot 11 for 18 as the Warriors again mixed and matched while playing without Curry as he nurses a strained left hamstring that he injured early in Game 1 on Tuesday.

Game 4 is Monday night at Chase Center.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr stressed his team had to win with defense — and his team couldn’t make the key stops down the stretch.

Edwards, who showed no signs of being hampered after spraining his left ankle in the second quarter of Game 2, knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer with 6:16 remaining, while Jaden McDaniels made another key 3 with 3:20 to play.

Randle began 1 for 6 and missed his initial four 3-point tries before connecting 6:30 before halftime to put Minnesota up 39-29 and force a Warriors timeout.

He shot 10 for 23.

“We need it all. We needed everything from Julius, his hustle plays,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “Sometimes he does a great job of just kind of chasing down rebounds and stuff like this. We needed it all.”

Buddy Hield’s 3-pointer with 1:56 left pulled Golden State within 93-89 then McDaniels threw the ball away moments later but the Warriors wer sloppy.

Golden State missed all five of its 3-point tries in the first half but still led 42-40, then Hield found some rhythm and scored 14 second-half points.

Draymond Green fouled out with 4:38 to play, whistled for his sixth personal trying to block a shot by McDaniels that appeared questionable on several replay reviews.

Green sprinted down the floor to the Warriors bench in frustration then pulled on his warmup jacket and stood with hands on hips.