Julius Randle produced a monster game on Saturday. One month into his head coaching career, he was the architect behind the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 102-97 upset victory against the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals. Randle finished with 24 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in the win. This performance fueled his second straight triple-double in the playoffs. This accomplishment makes him the second player in Minnesota playoff history to have a triple-double. He now finds himself among the ranks of Timberwolves legend Kevin Garnett.
That victory handed the Timberwolves a 2-1 lead in the series, a significant achievement in their long battle for continued playoff success. Randle’s offensive explosion highlighted not just his scoring ability but his decision making in clutch moments of the game. As the Wolves traverse the postseason, his leadership has already proven invaluable to a team that’s still quite new to playoff basketball.
Randle’s contributions were evident throughout the match. He put pressure on the defense with his playmaking abilities and delivered a number of perfect passes to teammates. He threaded the needle to Jaden McDaniels on the opening play with a swing pass, setting up an important three-pointer. Next, he assisted Rudy Gobert on a dunk that got him an and-one free throw too. Plus, he set a nasty pick for Anthony Edwards on a late quarter three-pointer to keep the Timberwolves’ lead intact.
Randle followed up his big performance with another one of 24 points and 11 assists in Game 2. This consistency has established him as the first player in franchise history to achieve multiple 20-point, 10-assist games within a single postseason.
Randle’s presence on the court has significantly impacted the Timberwolves’ performance. He did a great job of drawing fouls, getting Draymond Green into foul trouble. Consequently, the Warriors’ most important defender was forced to foul out in the second half. The Wolves took advantage of their size, making key plays in crunch time to earn victory.
“He was incredible, man. Finding everybody on cuts. Finding the open guy time after time. Pushing the pace,” – Anthony Edwards
The Timberwolves just pulled off a huge, surprising move ahead of training camp! In his place they acquired Julius Randle from the New York Knicks, forming a new trio with DiVincenzo and getting a first-round pick back for sending former No. Since then, Randle has emerged as a linchpin of the team’s success. He is a deliberate offensive firepower, and he bolsters strong leadership on the court right away.
Wolves head coach Chris Finch was complimentary of Randle’s influence on the team’s locker room culture.
“It’s really what’s turned our season around — his playmaking, his decision-making, playing through on different spots of the floor. He gives us almost another point guard out there. It’s everything for us. It’s been everything for our turnaround. It’s everything for our team,” – Chris Finch
The Timberwolves’ coaching staff and players have expressed admiration for Randle’s ability to elevate their game. His unique versatility has proven to be a difficult match up for opposing defenders, which was noted by his teammate Jaden McDaniels.
“They put the big dude on him, he’s too slow. They put the little guy on him, he’s too strong. So, it’s a hard problem for the other team to guard him,” – Jaden McDaniels
Randle’s professionalism, equipment malfunctions notwithstanding, and his diverse skill set has won the respect of teammates and coaches across the league. Beyond being a skilled player, he preaches a strategic approach through his gameplay.
“I feel like I just got a lot of different tools, you know what I mean? It’s really about using my mind and taking what the defense gives me. If they don’t double-team me, score. If they double-team me, find my guys,” – Julius Randle
As the game drew to a close, one brave Wolves staffer came up. They presented Randle with the game ball, emphasizing his central role in sealing this signature win. His play has not only raised the overall spirit of the team, but has the TWolves primed as they look to make some noise in the playoffs.
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