Warriors, Knicks will try to bounce back from home playoff losses with another chance in Game 4

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Without Steph: Those words keep coming up for the Golden State Warriors.

They will have to try again to find a way to win without Stephen Curry, who has missed the past two playoff games against Minnesota with a strained left hamstring.

“Our margin for error without Steph is obviously slimmer than it normally is, so we've got to be really focused on our game plan, discipline,” coach Steve Kerr said Sunday. “The effort was amazing.”

Yet even trailing 2-1 in the best-of-seven playoff series against the Timberwolves after a 102-97 defeat Saturday night, Jimmy Butler had some positive reflections:

“Of course, that we can compete without Steph," Butler said. “We’re still as confident as ever. We're going to go back to the film and the drawing boards and figure it out, and come back in here on Monday and (get) this thing to 2-2."

Meanwhile at Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks will aim to bounce back at home Monday night after the Boston Celtics won 115-93 to pull within 2-1 in their Eastern Conference playoff series.

“I mean, it’s the NBA playoffs, we all got to walk in with that kind of urgency. Shouldn’t be something we have to tell people to do," Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns said. “So, it falls on all of us to come in with that kind of urgency.”

Golden State will be bringing it, too.

The Warriors have another chance at Chase Center to even the series before returning to Minneapolis for Game 5. Curry is scheduled to be evaluated Wednesday, one week after his MRI exam following the injury early in Game 1 last Tuesday, so if all went well the soonest he might be available would be a Game 6 in San Francisco.

“I think the important thing is just to go out and perform no matter what’s going on, no matter if Steph is out there,” said forward Jonathan Kuminga, who scored 30 points off the bench Saturday.

The Warriors would like to find their 3-point shooting groove again after failing to make one in the first half on five attempts before finishing 10 of 23.

Sure, the offense is a concern, but Kerr keeps stressing how defense will be the key to winning this series. And on Saturday, the Warriors couldn't stop Anthony Edwards or Julius Randle when it mattered.

Edwards scored 36 points while Randle had a triple-double of 24 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.

The Wolves were unfazed by a deficit and a raucous crowd, chipping away a possession at a time.

“I think we’re just more confident now than we have been in the past,” Minnesota point guard Mike Conley said. “We saw it tonight being down a couple points late in games, and we don’t seem to panic. We tend to kind of double down on what we do defensively. Offensively we got a good rhythm.”

The Warriors will lean once more on Butler's guidance with Curry on the bench. Playoff Jimmy had 33 points, seven assists and seven rebounds.

"We're down 2-1, we've got to weather the storm," Buddy Hield said. “... We have to protect the basketball and just weather the storm and just give the ball to Jimmy and let him figure it out for us.”

When/Where to Watch: Game 4, 7:30 p.m. EDT (ESPN)

Series: Knicks, 2-1

BetMGM Sportsbook: Celtics by 6.5

What to Know: The Celtics have led by at least 20 points in all three games, but didn’t win any of them until their 115-93 victory in Game 3. The Celtics, who set an NBA record for 3-pointers made in a season, were 20 for 40 on Saturday after making just 25 of 100 in the two games in Boston. The Celtics' center rotation comes off its best game, with Al Horford scoring 15 points in Game 3 after two poor games in Boston and Kristaps Porzingis playing a series-high 19 minutes off the bench after feeling better after battling an illness in the opening two games. Mitchell Robinson is 7 for 23 on free throws, with the Celtics fouling the Knicks backup center intentionally to take advantage of his woes. Knicks forward OG Anunoby has totaled seven points on 3-for-15 shooting in the past two games after scoring 29 in the opener.

When/Where to Watch: Game 4, 10 p.m. EDT (ESPN)

Series: Timberwolves lead 2-1

BetMGM Sportsbook: Timberwolves by 5.5

What to Know: Minnesota made the key plays when it counted, such as Rudy Gobert's dunk and three-point play with 2:05 to go and his offensive rebound off a 3-point miss by Edwards that led to a made 3 by Edwards with 1:19 left. The Warriors missed Draymond Green's defensive presence during that crucial final stretch after he fouled out with 4:38 to play. Kerr might mix and match once more after he went with Trayce Jackson-Davis in the starting lineup for Game 3 but only played him 11 minutes — “we liked Trayce's size,” Kerr said. Kuminga's 30-point performance on 11-of-18 shooting playing nearly 36 minutes off the bench might put him in consideration for returning to the starting five.

AP Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney in New York contributed.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson reacts during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, Saturday, May 10, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum reacts after scoring a 3-point basket during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, Saturday, May 10, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns reacts after an injury during the first half against the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Saturday, May 10, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Knicks' Mitchell Robinson shoots a free throw during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, Saturday, May 10, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown, left, dribbles the ball against New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson, right, during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Saturday, May 10, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, left, knocks the ball away from Golden State Warriors center Kevon Looney during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series Saturday, May 10, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski, center, reacts during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Saturday, May 10, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley, right, tries to knock the ball away from Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series Saturday, May 10, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) shoots a 3-point basket over Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series Saturday, May 10, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga reacts after making a 3-point basket during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Saturday, May 10, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry looks up at the scoreboard during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Saturday, May 10, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Dallas (7-8-1) at N.Y. Giants (3-13)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox

BetMGM NFL Odds: Cowboys by 3 1/2

Against the spread: Cowboys 7-9; Giants 7-8-1

Series record: Dallas leads 78-47-2.

Last week: Cowboys beat Commanders 30-23; Giants beat Raiders 34-10.

Last meeting: Dallas beat Washington 40-37 in OT on Sept. 14.

Cowboys offense: overall (1), rush (9), pass (1), scoring (4)

Cowboys defense: overall (30), rush (t20), pass (32), scoring (32)

Giants offense: overall (15), rush (6), pass (21), scoring (21)

Giants defense: overall (29), rush (30), pass (20), scoring (26)

Turnover differential: Cowboys minus-8; Giants minus-3

QB Dak Prescott has a 14-game winning streak against the Giants since two of his losses in a 13-3 rookie season in 2016 came against them. It’s the second-longest winning streak against a single opponent in NFL history behind Bob Griese, who beat Buffalo 17 consecutive times from 1968-79. Prescott will get credit for a Dallas victory because he is expected to start. The question is how long he will play in a finale with no playoff implications. Either way, this will go down as one of Prescott’s best seasons. He enters the final week first in the NFL with 4,482 yards passing.

WR Wan'Dale Robinson gets to put the finishing touches on his case for a new contract, either with the team that drafted him or elsewhere. Robinson last week became the first player 5-foot-8 or shorter to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving since 5-7 Richard Johnson in 1989 and just the third since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. And he's playing against a Dallas secondary without Trevon Diggs, who was released on Tuesday.

Cowboys' offensive line vs. Giants' pass rush. New York's Brian Burns trails only Cleveland record-chasing Myles Garrett in sacks with a career-high 16 1/2, while rookie Abdul Carter has heated up with 3 1/2 over the past four games. Dallas would like to keep Prescott upright, no matter how long he plays.

Cowboys: RBs Javonte Williams (stinger) and Malik Davis (calf/eye) have been ruled out. The backs with a chance to be active have 54 career carries among them: FB Hunter Luepke (32) and rookies Jaydon Blue (22) and Phil Mafah (0). Mafah has been out all season with a shoulder injury, and is listed as questionable ... LB DeMarvion Overshown and rookie CB Shavon Revel have been dealing with concussions and won't play.

Giants: Two starters in the secondary are out: CB Cor'Dale Flott (knee) and S Jevon Holland (knee/concussion).

The Cowboys have won nine in a row against the Giants and 16 of the past 17. It's the longest active series in the league. Dallas' last winning streak this long was against Carolina from 1998-2012. ... Each team has been eliminated from playoff contention. ... The Cowboys are trying to avoid consecutive losing seasons for the first time since going 5-11 under coach Dave Campo from 2000-02. ... New York can still secure the top draft pick with a loss and Las Vegas victory against Kansas City or could drop as low as No. 7. ... This is expected to be interim coach Mike Kafka's final game with the Giants.

Cowboys WR George Pickens needs 80 yards receiving to reach 1,500 in his Dallas debut after the offseason trade from Pittsburgh. His only 1,000-yard season in three years with the Steelers came in 2023, when he had 1,140. … Ferguson needs one touchdown catch to tie the franchise tight end record of nine, held by Jason Witten and Billy Joe Dupree. … In their Week 2 game, K Brandon Aubrey had a tying 64-yard field goal on the final play of regulation and a winning 46-yarder as time expired in overtime in the 40-37 Dallas victory. ... Giants rookie QB Jaxson Dart has accounted for 22 TDs (13 passing and nine rushing) with just five interceptions, in his first 11 professional starts. ... Robinson led the team with 113 yards receiving at Las Vegas. He had 142 in Week 2 at Dallas, which was before top receiver Malik Nabers was knocked out for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee. ... LB Bobby Okereke intercepted Geno Smith and had seven tackles last week. ... CB Deonte Banks returned a kickoff 95 yards for a TD against the Raiders.

Daily fantasy players might be able to cash in if Giants RB Tyrone Tracy has another big game rushing and receiving.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

FILE - Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is sacked by Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sept. 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson, File)

FILE - Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) carries the ball after reception during a NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sept. 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson, File)