The Minnesota Timberwolves have officially reached their second consecutive Western Conference Finals after defeating the Golden State Warriors with a score of 121-110, concluding the series with a decisive 4-1 win. This victory marks a significant achievement for the Timberwolves as they continue to build on their playoff success.
Once again, the Warriors found themselves without their star guard, Steph Curry, who has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring strain during the second quarter of Game 1. Despite this setback, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr refused to attribute the team's postseason exit to Curry’s absence. He stated, “Injuries are a part of the playoffs,” emphasizing that there is no benefit in dwelling on what could have been. “I don’t want to take anything away from what Minnesota just accomplished,” he added, dismissing any further discussion about Curry’s impact.
Leading the charge for the Timberwolves was Julius Randle, who showcased his prowess by scoring 29 points on an impressive 13-of-18 shooting. He also contributed eight rebounds and five assists, solidifying his reputation as ‘Playoff Julius’ on social media. Randle was acquired by the Timberwolves in a significant trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks. Throughout the playoffs, Randle has averaged nearly 24 points per game, consistently scoring over 20 points in eight of the Timberwolves' ten postseason games.
“Just how he creates for others and his impact on the game,” said Timberwolves star guard Anthony Edwards when discussing Randle's exceptional performances. “The way he controls the tempo, the way he pushes the pace, and even his defense has gone to another level. It’s incredible to be his teammate and he brings it every night.” Edwards himself had a standout game, finishing with 22 points, seven rebounds, 12 assists, and three blocks. Other notable contributions came from Rudy Gobert with 17 points, Mike Conley with 16 points, Jaden McDaniels with 14 points, and Donte DiVincenzo adding 13 points off the bench.
The Timberwolves dominated the game, leading by as many as 25 points in the third quarter. Although the Warriors made a late push to cut the deficit to nine points in the fourth quarter, Minnesota managed to hold on for the victory. On the Warriors side, Brandin Podziemski shone with a playoff career-high of 28 points, while Jonathan Kuminga added 26 points off the bench. However, Jimmy Butler had a disappointing outing, scoring just 17 points on 4-of-11 shooting. Known for his impressive playoff performances, Butler struggled this postseason after suffering a pelvis injury in Game 2 of the first round against the Houston Rockets.
As the Timberwolves prepare for the next round, they will face either the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Denver Nuggets. The Thunder currently hold a 3-2 series lead and are set to play Game 6 on Thursday night.
In other playoff news, the defending champions, the Boston Celtics, managed to avoid elimination with a commanding 127-102 win over the New York Knicks, pushing their series to a crucial Game 6. This victory came in Boston’s first game without star player Jayson Tatum, who underwent successful surgery for a ruptured Achilles. In Tatum's absence, Derrick White stepped up remarkably, scoring a game-high 34 points, including 7-of-13 from three-point range.
The game featured a competitive back-and-forth battle with 11 lead changes until the Celtics pulled away, establishing control midway through the third quarter. For the Knicks, Josh Hart scored 24 points while Jalen Brunson contributed 22 points. The highly anticipated Game 6 will take place at Madison Square Garden on Friday, as both teams vie for a chance to advance in the playoffs.
