Julius Randle and Anthony Edwards led the way as the Minnesota Timberwolves rebounded from a Game 1 loss to dismantle the Golden State Warriors 117-93 in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Thursday night in Minneapolis.
Randle was the orchestrator throughout, tallying 24 points and 11 assists, while Edwards added 20 points and nine rebounds despite a brief injury scare. The Timberwolves’ aggressive defense and high-tempo offense helped them even the best-of-seven series at 1-1.
“We watched film yesterday,” Edwards said postgame. “We saw that it wasn’t just that we didn’t make shots, it was more so our defensive pressure and intensity. We didn’t bring it. So, we knew we had to bring it today.”
The Warriors were forced to play without star guard Stephen Curry, who suffered a left hamstring injury in Game 1 and is expected to miss at least a week. His absence was glaring, as Golden State struggled to find rhythm and leadership on the court.
The Timberwolves seized control early, storming to a 25-7 lead in the opening quarter. Edwards and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who finished with 20 points off the bench, delivered critical baskets to build a commanding advantage. Minnesota led 56-39 at halftime.
Golden State rallied briefly in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 62-55 with a 16-6 run fueled by a Buddy Hield three-pointer off a Brandin Podziemski assist. But Minnesota quickly wrestled back momentum with an 18-5 run. Alexander-Walker capped the surge with a deep three to put the Timberwolves up 83-63 with under 30 seconds left in the third.
Coach Chris Finch praised his team’s fast start and overall response. “We looked a lot more like ourselves,” he said. “Obviously, the start was great for us, that’s what we needed to set the tone… Other than the beginning of the second half, it was exactly the response we needed.”
Frustration boiled over for the Warriors in the second quarter, as Draymond Green drew a technical foul after a hard foul on Naz Reid and was temporarily benched by coach Steve Kerr. “We lost a little bit of composure,” Kerr admitted. “But we learned a lot, and I think this game will help us figure out how to move forward.”
The Timberwolves’ bench wrapped up the game, with players like Terrence Shannon Jr. and Josh Minott closing out the final minutes. The series now shifts to San Francisco, where Game 3 promises to be a crucial turning point.
