The Minnesota Timberwolves were desperate. Two games down in the Western Conference Finals and their season slipping fast, they needed a spark, something or someone to wake them up. Turns out that someone was Julius Randle. After a rough Game 2, where he rode the bench in the fourth quarter, the veteran forward stormed back with fire in his eyes and 24 hard-earned points.
But it wasn’t just the stat sheet that stood out. It was the attitude that Anthony Edwards definitely took notice of.
Anthony Edwards Full of Parise As Julius Randle Responds After Game 2 Benching
In Game 2, Randle barely made a dent – just six points through three quarters. He watched the entire fourth from the sidelines. Minnesota lost by 118-103, and the decision to bench him raised eyebrows. Even Draymond Green questioned it, saying, “You either give confidence or take confidence away.”
But Randle didn’t complain. Instead, he got back to work.
After Game 3 win, the reporter asked Anthony Edwards about Randle’s mindset. The reporter noted that Randel had said he was ready to play aggressively again. Edwards lit up.
“He a vet, man,” Edwards said. “A vet knows what to do. He knows how to respond. He knows not to take nothing personal. That’s what he did, man. He came with the right energy at shootaround this morning. I could see it in his eyes. He wanted his respect back—and he got it.”
Anthony Edwards postgame interview on the court, after the Timberwolves beat OKC in game 3, and are now down 1-2 in the series. Western Conference Finals, 2025 NBA Playoffs. pic.twitter.com/wPSNJKWjnu
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA)
Randle dropped 24 points in just 30 minutes on an efficient 9-of-15 shooting. He knocked down 2-of-5 from deep, hit all four of his free throws, and added four rebounds and three assists for good measure.
He was aggressive from the jump – getting to his spots, attacking the rim, and keeping OKC’s defense scrambling. And just like that, the Timberwolves, once again, looked like contenders.
Momentum Shifts in the Western Conference Finals As Timberwolves Win Game 3
The final score said it all: 143–101. Minnesota didn’t just beat Oklahoma City; they humiliated them. It was the Timberwolves’ second-biggest playoff win ever, and it handed the Thunder their worst postseason loss in franchise history.
The Timberwolves blow out the Thunder 143-101 in WCF Game 3.
– MIN's second-biggest playoff win ever (Biggest: +45 points over 2024 Nuggets)
– OKC's biggest playoff loss ever (Previous: -35 to 2014 Spurs)
– MIN's biggest win & OKC's worst loss of 2024-25 season— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver)
Edwards led the charge with 30 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, shooting 12-of-17 from the field and 3-of-5 from downtown. But it was the combo of Edwards and Randle that really broke the game open.
Randle’s presence on the court changed the energy. He played with purpose. After Game 2’s disappointment, many wondered if his confidence had taken a hit. But if anything, the benching only added fuel.
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It’s easy to forget in the heat of a playoff series, but Randle has been huge for Minnesota all postseason. His 28-point showing in Game 1 was proof that he’s a big-game player. Game 2 may have been a misstep, but Game 3 showed why the Wolves brought him in.
Now the series stands at 2-1. Game 4 on Monday, May 24 is shaping up to be a battle. The Timberwolves have momentum, the home crowd behind them, and a newly recharged Randle ready to keep proving doubters wrong.
