What We Learned About the Timberwolves in Overpowering Game 4 Win Over Warriors

By    |  
Updated:
Follow Us
NBA: Playoffs-Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden State Warriors
Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Timberwolves came into game four of the Western Conference semifinals with an opportunity to take a 3-1 lead back home to Minneapolis. But first, they knew they’d get the Golden State Warriors’ best effort on Monday night… which they did, at least for a half.

Steph Curry remained out for game four, and likely game five too, which is just another reason why the Warriors needed a win so desperately. If they can’t find a way to secure one victory in this series without their superstar, then he may not return in time to play superhero in the final games.

Like we have seen throughout this series, the Timberwolves got off to yet another slow start on Monday night. That allowed Golden State to secure a 28-27 lead at the end of one quarter and a 60-58 lead at half.

But yet again, Minnesota flipped the switch during halftime, and came out looking like a complete different team, lighting the Warriors up for 39 points in the third quarter, alone. Golden State, meanwhile, was just trying to keep up with Anthony Edwards, who nearly outscored them by himself, 16-17 in that period.

Just like that, the Wolves found themselves leading by 20 points going into the fourth quarter, a lead they held into garbage time. Because without Steph available to shoot them back into it, and Jimmy Butler looking like a shell of his former self, 20 points is a deficit this Warriors team is not capable of coming back from.

What We Learned – Minnesota Timberwolves vs Golden State Warriors (Gm 4)

When the dust settled on game four, the Minnesota Timberwolves stood on top 117-110. Julius Randle scored a game-high 31 points and kept the Wolves in the game early, while others were slow to get going. Jaden McDaniels put up a double-double, with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and others made big contributions too.

NBA: Playoffs-Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden State Warriors
Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

The final score makes game three look like a way closer contest than what it was, at least in the second half. That was mostly thanks to sloppy play by the Wolves’ B-squad, which allowed the Warriors B-squad to bring it within two possessions by the final buzzer.

Nonetheless, it’s a W and a 3-1 series lead. Minnesota went to San Francisco and took care of business… twice. Now, they get their aforementioned opportunity to close things out in game five, back in Minnesota.

So, here is what we learned about the Timberwolves during their game four dub (other than the fact that the Warriors can’t hang, especially without Steph Curry).

Thank the basketball gods (and Tim Connelly) for Julius Randle

In the first half Monday night, with Anthony Edwards once again off to a slow start, Minnesota needed Julius Randle to be a calming force offensively. So, per usual, the 30-year-old former No. 7 overall pick out of Kentucky did what was asked of him.

He lead all first half scorers with 19 points (including 3-of-5 from deep), to go with his 5 first half rebounds. He also scored the Wolves’ first five points of the game, after Golden State jumped out to an early 5-0 lead.

If you would have told me back in January that Julius Randle would be the Minnesota Timberwolves playoff MVP through their first seven wins of the postseason, I would have laughed at you.

Don’t get me wrong, Randle has been contributing big minutes all regular season, where he averaged 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.7 points per game. But he struggled to find where he belonged in the Wolves offense, not to mention his lack of effort oftentimes on the defensive end.

Related: Video Surfaces Proving NBA Refs Will Allow Just About Any Crime Against Rudy Gobert

But after sitting out for all of February with injury, Julius got an opportunity to watch the Minnesota offense work without him. And when he came back, he immediately looked like a much more natural fit in the Wolves offense. Since the playoff started, that has only intensified, as has his defense.

Now, Randle has become the Wolves baby blanket. Whether they need him to take the ball up the court and act as a point forward, or they need a bucket to stop a run, even a big stop on defense, head coach Chris Finch has learned that he can call Julius Randle’s number for just about anything right now, and he will deliver.

Minnesota Timberwolves love playing down to their competition early in games

As they have way too often in these playoffs, the Minnesota Timberwolves came out slow in game four. The Golden State Warriors jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, before Julius Randle realized he needed to calm the waters. But while it seems like the Timberwolves like to fall behind all the time, it has been especially bad in this series.

Why? Well, I have a theory. Minnesota knows that, especially without Steph Curry, they are a much better team than this iteration of the Golden State Warriors. Thus, the Wolves continue to come out of the opening gates lacking playoff-level intensity and focus.

At the end of the day, this team goes as Anthony Edwards does. And when the best player on the floor, outside of him, is a 35-year-old Jimmy Butler and washed up Draymond Green… it’s harder for him to get up for tip-off. I mean look at this kid. He might want Steph back in the series even more than Warriors fans do.

Of course, that’s not the best mentality to have. But at the end of the day, human nature almost always wins. And when you know you have a vastly superior team than your opponent, it’s more difficult to stay 100% engaged and locked in.

The Anthony Edwards we saw in round one never made it to San Francisco. He’s still back in LA talking shit to LeBron and flinging spider webs at Luka Doncic. Let’s be real, that hits different than flinging webs at Jonathan Kuminga or Buddy Hield.

Anthony Edwards takeover begins in, 3…2…1…

Anthony Edwards scored 14 points in the first half of game four, and his final three points of those first 24 minutes came in the final second, when he hit a deep step back three-pointer on two Warriors to close the half. While the Minnesota Timberwolves entered the second half down 58-60, you knew Golden State was in trouble after this.

And wouldn’t you know it, that is exactly how the 2nd half went. After scoring 14 points the entire first half, Anthony Edwards scored 16 points in the third quarter, nearly outscoring the entire Warriors team.

The third quarter Wolves onslaught on Monday night was so detrimental that, by the end of the period, Golden State had gone from up two points… to down twenty, after Minnesota outscored them 39-17. All this goes back to a point I have been making since before this series started, and especially after Curry went out with injury.

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Announcer Lands a Couple More Jobs

Unless the Minnesota Timberwolves play like absolute trash, the Golden State Warriors — just like the LA Lakers before them — do not stand a chance. The Wolves have too much star power, followed up with waaaaayyy too much depth behind them. Most other NBA teams, including the Warriors, have one or the other.

Edwards hot third quarter was eventually put out by foul trouble. But by then, it was too late. The Minnesota Timberwolves were already up 20 and his teammates were already following their superstars lead by knocking down shots of their own, including Donte DiVincenzo, Julius Randle.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker even went a perfect 5-of-5 on the night, good for 11 points. In game six, it feels like the Warriors will need Steph Curry to stand a chance, especially if Jimmy Butler isn’t going to show up. We’ll see if they those dreams come true.

Mentioned in this article:

More About:
0What do you think?Post a comment.