Anthony Edwards crashed into Julius Randle’s post-game interview moments after the final buzzer sounded in Game 5, celebrating the series-clinching win with a handshake.
THIS DUO 💯@J30_RANDLE x @theantedwards_ https://t.co/0bECc532uI
— NBA (@NBA) May 15, 2025
For the first time in franchise history, the Minnesota Timberwolves reached the Western Conference Finals in back-to-back years.
[ALSO READ: Timberwolves return to West Finals after dispatching Warriors in Game 5]
But if there was any sense of celebration, Edwards quickly swatted it away.
“There is no satisfaction,” the 23-year-old star insisted in the aftermath of the Timberwolves’ 121-110 victory to eliminate the Golden State Warriors and complete a five-game conquest.
"There is no satisfaction." 🗣?
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 15, 2025
Ant & Rudy are hungry for more after clinching a spot in the Conference Finals 👀
Edwards scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half and dished out a playoff career-high 12 assists. He added seven rebounds and drilled five threes as Minnesota racked up four straight wins after dropping the series opener.
But the job’s not done as per the three-time All-Star.
“We just got here and we haven’t done anything yet,” Edwards continued.
That mindset — of hunger over hype — is exactly what head coach Chris Finch has preached to his squad throughout the season.
After last year’s breakthrough run, Finch challenged his team not to rest on that success but to validate it.
“The challenge I relayed to the guys from day one is quite simple: Were you a Western Conference Finals team or were you a team that just happened to make the Western Conference Finals? There's only one way to prove that. Go out and do it again,” the 55-year-old told reporters in the post-game press conference.
Coach Finch says he asked his team one question throughout the season:
— NBA (@NBA) May 15, 2025
"Were you a Western Conference Finals team or were you a team that just happened to make the Western Conference Finals?
...and there's only one way to prove that. Go out and do it again." https://t.co/OCzz2KOGrh
Minnesota did just that — and perhaps more impressively, they responded to that challenge with a total team effort to improve to 2-0 in close-out games this playoffs.
Julius Randle chalked up 29 points, big man Rudy Gobert added 17 markers, and veteran Mike Conley chipped in a series-high 16 spiked on four threes.
Randle averaged 25.2 points, 7.4 assists, and 6.6 rebounds in the West semifinals en route to reaching his first-ever Conference Finals throughout his 12-year career.
“I was steadfast in my belief that Julius would help us when it mattered the most. I never really doubted the fact that he was exactly the player that could help in moments like this,” Finch emphasized.
Jaden McDaniels and Donte DiVincenzo logged 14 and 13 markers, respectively, as the Timberwolves set a franchise playoff record for assists (36) and field goal percentage (62.8%).
“We know what our recipe for success is,” Finch bared. “Coming into the playoffs, our team talked a lot about the selflessness that was needed for it to be anybody’s night and just stay ready."
Now, the Timberwolves wait. They’ll face either the West top seed Oklahoma City or three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and his Denver squad in the next round as the Thunder lead the Nuggets, 3-2, in that series.
