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MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—Julius Randle leaned forward as he powered his way into the lane, a display of resolve that was lacking in the previous match, using his imposing 6-foot-9, 255-pound frame to challenge the agile Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City before stopping to hit a smooth 10-footer.
With the Timberwolves leading by 34 points late in the third quarter, the atmosphere in the Target Center was electrifying, as the crowd’s enthusiasm remained high throughout the game on Saturday night.
Following a timeout called by the Thunder, Randle made his way to midcourt, lifted his arms in triumph, and loudly proclaimed to the excited crowd: “We home now!”
The Timberwolves made a significant statement in the Western Conference Finals, even though their 143-101 victory in Game 3 somewhat belatedly marked their arrival.
Randle’s display on the court exemplified the team’s spirited response.
“The energy at home really fueled me tonight,” remarked Randle, who scored 24 points on 9-for-15 shooting, contributing four rebounds, three assists, and maintaining a perfect turnover-free record. “It gave me a lot of motivation. I just wanted to harness that energy. I know our team thrives on it. I was just enjoying the game.”
Despite averaging 24 points on 52% shooting during the Timberwolves’ 11 playoff games, Randle struggled in Game 2, managing only six points on 2-for-11 shooting with four turnovers. With the Thunder dominating the game, Coach Chris Finch elected to keep him on the bench for the entirety of the fourth quarter.
While Randle felt disheartened by that decision, his strong rapport with Finch—rooted in their time together during the 2018-19 season in New Orleans—along with an understanding of the bigger picture, prevented any frustration from affecting his attitude.
“As a competitor, I obviously want to be on the court, but it’s crucial to focus on the team, and I aimed to maintain the same mindset, regardless of good or bad days,” Randle explained. “Setting that example is important for my teammates. As challenging as it can be, it’s necessary to check your ego at the door.”
During their morning shootaround, Finch and Randle had a chat, but there was no lingering tension to resolve.
“I told him, ‘You’ve had one below-par game in the playoffs, and it just so happened to be the last one. Let’s move forward,’” Finch shared.
Great advice from the head coach, but Randle had already embraced that sentiment.
Anthony Edwards, who energized the Timberwolves with 30 points in 30 minutes before resting during the fourth quarter, was the first to offer Randle some encouragement after the loss to Oklahoma City on Thursday night.
“He said, ‘Bro, just let it go. You’re good. Don’t stress about it,’” Randle recounted. “As the flight progressed, I started smiling and laughing again while playing cards. His maturity and awareness as a team leader are invaluable.”
In Game 3, Randle regained both his aggressive play and his fadeaway shot, sinking a 16-footer and an 11-footer early on, signaling a return to the Timberwolves’ previous success in the paint during the earlier rounds of the NBA playoffs, before being challenged by the Thunder’s top-ranked defense in the first two games of this series.
“We simply had to dig deeper to find a better version of ourselves,” Finch stated. “We hadn’t really showcased our best basketball yet, though they certainly deserve credit for that. I believe we finally managed to come together, and we need to replicate that effort.”
