MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards approached for a handshake throughout Julius Randle’s postgame TV interview, the duo placing a seal on one other dominant collection for Minnesota in these NBA playoffs.
Randle scored 29 factors on 13-for-18 taking pictures to ship the Timberwolves to the Western Convention finals for the second straight 12 months with a 121-110 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Recreation 5 on Wednesday evening.
“I simply attempt to do my finest to learn the sport in the easiest way I can,” Randle mentioned. “They threw completely different coverages at us all collection lengthy.”
Edwards had 22 factors and 12 assists for the sixth-seeded Wolves, who will face the Denver-Oklahoma Metropolis winner subsequent.
They may get 5 days off, if the Nuggets beat the Thunder on Thursday to drive a Recreation 7 within the different West semifinal collection.
Brandin Podziemski had a playoff career-high 28 factors for the Warriors, who once more performed with out star Stephen Curry due to the hamstring pressure that pressured him out of the second quarter in Recreation 1 and took the guts out of their complete offensive operation.
“I don’t wish to take something away from what Minnesota simply completed,” coach Steve Kerr mentioned. “No sense in even speaking about Steph.”
Jonathan Kuminga supplied one other vitality enhance off the bench with 26 factors, however Podziemski’s efficiency got here too late and the manufacturing from Jimmy Butler and Buddy Hield was constantly too little after they led the series-opening win.
Golden State offered much more of a defensive problem than the Los Angeles Lakers did for Minnesota throughout their five-game collection within the first spherical, however the assortment of every-level scorers the Wolves can throw at an opponent after they’re transferring the ball and pushing the tempo merely wore down the Warriors over the course of the collection.
Rudy Gobert was a drive across the rim with 17 factors, Mike Conley had 16 factors and eight assists, and Donte DiVincenzo snapped out of a hunch with 13 factors because the Wolves shot a staggering 77% on 2-pointers (36 for 47).
They set franchise postseason data for assists (36) and subject objective share (62.8%).
Collection close-out video games can typically be the hardest to win, however the Wolves performed with a ferocity paired with their taking pictures contact that each one however portended victory.
Randle saved up his excellent postseason, offering a relentless supply of vitality and manufacturing.
The Wolves stretched their lead as excessive as 25 factors within the third quarter, massive sufficient to face up to a late Warriors push that pulled them to 99-90 with 7:11 left.
However Edwards answered with a 3, and the gang began mixing “Wolves in 5! Wolves in 5!” chants in with the roars for every made basket that acquired them nearer to advancing.
“There is no such thing as a satisfaction,” Edwards mentioned. “We simply acquired right here.”
