Julius Randle vowed to “play better as an individual” after the Minnesota Timberwolves absorbed their first home loss in this year’s playoffs, a Game 1 shocker to the Golden State Warriors.
Randle stayed true to his word, and so did the Timberwolves.
The bulky big man fired 24 points, leading five Minnesota players in double figures in a 117-93 rout of the Stephen Curry-less Warriors in Game 2 to even their West semis series at one-game apiece, Friday (PH time), May 9.
Julius Randle putting a bow on Game 2 for Minnesota 😤
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 9, 2025
Randle also posted a new playoff high of 11 assists to go along with seven rebounds in a brilliant all-around outing for the Timberwolves, who never trailed in the game and led by as many as 25 points.
Julius Randle shows off the finesse AND power 💪
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2025
He's got 16 PTS in the first half of Game 2 on TNT!
Warriors (1-0) Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards bucked a left ankle sprain to supply 20 markers, nine rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
Ant with the TOUGH finish 😤
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2025
Timberwolves leading in the 4Q with a chance to even the series!
🍿 G2 on TNT
He went straight to the locker room with 5:56 seconds left in the second frame after Warriors’ big man Trayce Jackson-Davis landed on Edwards’ ankle, leaving the 23-year-old sitting on the floor in pain as the play continued. Edwards straight to the locker room with the help of the team’s trainers, but started in the second half.
Jaden McDaniels delivered on both ends of the floor with 16 markers, three steals, and three blocks while Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker combined for 31 of the Twolves’ 46 bench points.
This sequence from Jaden McDaniels 😮?💨
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2025
Contests the shot on one end, fastbreak slam on the other!
MIN leading in G2, looking to even the series on TNT 🍿
Meanwhile, Jonathan Kumina topscored the Warriors with 18 in a game where superstar Stephen Curry remained on the sideline due to a strained left hamstring. Curry is expected to be out for Golden State for a week which means he will miss Games 3, 4, and 5.
Jimmy Butler added 17 points while Buddy Hield and Treyce Jackson-Davis contributed 15 markers apiece.
The Warriors started the third frame on fire, going on a 16-6 run to cut a once 22-point Timberwolves lead to seven at 55-62 with 6:57 seconds left to play.
"HERE COME THE WARRIORS."
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2025
Kuminga reverse slam (7-7 FGM).
Buddy triple.
It's a 7-point game in G2 on TNT 👀
But Minnesota stayed composed the rest of the way as the series now shifts to the Bay Area for the next two games.
(With reports from Pao Ambat)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]
