The Golden State Warriors needed Draymond Green to step outside his comfort zone on Tuesday night. Stephen Curry was limping off the floor with a left hamstring strain, and that left Green as the veteran among a bunch of non-champions.

Buddy Hield and Draymond Green delivered from 3-point range and the Warriors opened the second-round playoffs series with an inspired 99-88 victory.

The Golden State Warriors have their sights set on the Minnesota Timberwolves in round two of the playoffs after surviving a tight, physical battle with the Houston Rockets in the first round. After dropping Games 5 and 6 in that series and conceding all of the momentum to the youthful Houston squad,