Timberwolves Take Commanding Lead in Western Conference Semifinals

SAN FRANCISCO: In a thrilling NBA playoff matchup, Julius Randle and Anthony Edwards spearheaded the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 117-110 triumph over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night at Chase Center.

This victory grants the Timberwolves a significant 3-1 advantage in the NBA Western Conference semifinal series.

Randle delivered an outstanding performance with 31 points, accompanied by five rebounds and three assists. Edwards mirrored his teammate’s impact, amassing 30 points, five assists, and four rebounds, reinforcing his crucial role for Minnesota.

The initial stages of the game were closely contested, with the Warriors narrowly outscoring the Timberwolves 28-27 in the first quarter and 32-31 in the second.

During halftime, Edwards ignited his teammates with an impassioned message.

Edwards’ Halftime Motivation

Edwards conveyed, “During halftime, the coach observed that we were performing as if we had already secured the series, which I found unsettling. I reminded everyone that we had only achieved two victories.”

His inspirational words resonated on the court during the third quarter, where the Timberwolves unleashed a remarkable 17-0 surge, with Edwards personally accounting for 11 of those points. By the conclusion of the third quarter, Minnesota had established a commanding 97-77 lead.

The Warriors mounted a spirited comeback effort with a 33-20 fourth quarter, but the deficit proved insurmountable.

Jonathan Kuminga spearheaded the Warriors’ offense with 23 points, successfully converting 11 of 12 free throws, while Jimmy Butler contributed 14 points, six rebounds, and three assists.

The series now transitions to Minneapolis for Game 5 on Wednesday night, where the Timberwolves will have the opportunity to clinch the best-of-seven series in front of their home crowd.

Golden State remains without the services of Stephen Curry, who has been absent for the past three games due to a hamstring injury and is anticipated to remain sidelined for Game 5.