The Golden State Warriors are down 1-3 in the second round against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and with a "superman" Stephen Curry return having been taken off the table for Game 5, the Warriors will need Jimmy Butler to shoulder the team on both ends of the floor.

Two of the past three champs are staring at elimination without their superstars, plus more Round 2 revelations.

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported on Wednesday, “Gafford is a trade candidate to monitor should he not agree to an extension with Dallas. The 26-year-old center will want a pay raise, the Mavericks already have (Anthony) Davis on a max contract, and 21-year-old center Dereck Lively is a year away from being extension-eligible.”

Knicks vs. Celtics and Timberwolves vs. Warriors are on tap Wednesday as 2025 NBA playoff betting is in full swing. See exclusive NBA betting promo codes for sites like FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM

The Minnesota Timberwolves have Anthony Edwards. The Golden State Warriors do not. Sometimes, it's just that simple. The Wolves, led by Edwards' 30 points and five assists, beat the Dubs 117-110 on Monday night to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the semifinals of the Western Conference playoffs.

Former New York Post writer and TV pundit Peter Vecsey tells the Bay Area News Group: “I (expletive) hate injuries.”

The Golden State Warriors will need to play a near-perfect game on Wednesday to stave off elimination. Without Steph Curry in the picture, the Warriors have a daunting task ahead of them as they look to secure a road win against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of their second-round NBA playoffs series.