It is not just a coincidence the Warriors have been able to survive their minutes without Curry in the Butler era.

Jimmy Butler and Buddy Hield delivered in their own ways the both-ends-of-the-floor production necessary for Golden State to fend off Minnesota for a Game 1 victory after star Stephen Curry went down with a strained left hamstring early in the second quarter.

The Warriors announced an MRI revealed it was a Grade 1 hamstring strain and that the injury would be reevaluated in a week. That timeline meant he would miss Games 2, 3 and 4 with Game 5—scheduled one week from the announcement—up in the air.