Anthony Edwards was approached for a handshake during Julius Randle’s postgame interview, marking another dominant playoff series for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Randle led the way with 29 points on 13-of-18 shooting, propelling the Timberwolves to a 121-110 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 5, securing their spot in the Western Conference finals for the second consecutive year.
“I just try to do my best to read the game in the best way I can,” Randle said, acknowledging the various defensive strategies Golden State used throughout the series.
Edwards contributed 22 points and 12 assists for the Timberwolves, who are now set to face the winner of the Denver-Oklahoma City series. If the Nuggets win on Thursday, the Timberwolves could get up to five days of rest before the next round.
Brandin Podziemski had a career-high 28 points for the Warriors, who were without star Stephen Curry, sidelined due to a hamstring strain he suffered in Game 1. Without Curry, the Warriors struggled to find offensive rhythm.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the Timberwolves’ success, saying, “I don’t want to take anything away from what Minnesota just accomplished.” He also avoided commenting on Curry’s absence, as it was clear that the Warriors missed their leader.
Jonathan Kuminga added a spark off the bench for Golden State with 26 points, but despite Podziemski’s strong performance, the Warriors’ overall production was insufficient, particularly from players like Jimmy Butler and Buddy Hield, who had been pivotal in their series-opening victory.
While Golden State presented a stronger defensive challenge than the Lakers did in Minnesota’s first-round series, the Timberwolves’ depth and offensive firepower proved overwhelming. With players like Rudy Gobert (17 points), Mike Conley (16 points and 8 assists), and Donte DiVincenzo (13 points) contributing significantly, the Timberwolves shot an impressive 77% on 2-pointers (36 of 47). They also set franchise postseason records for assists (36) and field goal percentage (62.8%).
The Timberwolves’ intensity and shooting precision in this close-out game suggested victory from the outset. Randle continued his standout postseason form, consistently energizing and producing for his team. Minnesota built a commanding 25-point lead in the third quarter, and despite a late push by the Warriors, closing the gap to 99-90 with 7:11 remaining, Edwards hit a crucial 3-pointer to keep the Warriors at bay. The crowd responded with chants of “Wolves in 5!” as the Timberwolves neared their goal of advancing to the next round.
Edwards remained focused, saying, “There is no satisfaction. We just got here.”
