Julius Randle powered the Minnesota Timberwolves to a second consecutive Western Conference Finals appearance, scoring 29 points on a highly efficient 13-of-18 shooting night in a 121-110 win over the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 on Wednesday.
The sixth-seeded Timberwolves closed out the series 4-1 and now await the winner of the Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder matchup. If the Nuggets force a Game 7 by beating the Thunder on Thursday, the Wolves could benefit from five full days of rest before the next round.
Anthony Edwards Shines Again
Anthony Edwards continued his breakout postseason, contributing 22 points and 12 assists to pace Minnesota’s offense. The Wolves were lethal inside the arc, shooting an astonishing 77% on two-point attempts (36-for-47).
Warriors Struggle Without Curry
Golden State was again without superstar Stephen Curry, who has been sidelined since Game 1 with a hamstring strain. His absence left a void the team couldn't fill, despite a playoff career-high 28 points from rookie Brandin Podziemski and 26 points off the bench from Jonathan Kuminga.
Veterans Jimmy Butler (17 points) and Buddy Hield were unable to match their Game 1 performances, and the Warriors’ offensive inconsistency proved costly. According to Sportradar, this marks the first time Golden State has lost four straight playoff games in a single postseason since 1972.
Wolves’ Balanced Attack Wears Down Golden State
Minnesota’s offensive depth and unselfish ball movement overwhelmed a Warriors team that presented a tougher defensive challenge than the Lakers in the first round. Rudy Gobert added 17 points, Mike Conley chipped in 16 points and eight assists, and Donte DiVincenzo broke out of a slump with 13 points.
Randle’s relentless energy and production set the tone, especially in the second quarter. One highlight came when he converted a three-point play off a fast-break layup, giving the Wolves a 62-47 lead and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Golden State cut a 25-point deficit to 99-90 late in the fourth quarter, but Edwards responded instantly with a clutch three-pointer to extinguish the rally. The Warriors never got closer than 10 points again.
What’s Next
The Timberwolves now have their eyes set on the Western Conference Finals, where they’ll face either the Nuggets or Thunder. With
Julius Randle and Anthony Edwards leading the charge, Minnesota is looking to make its first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history.
