Apart from Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves possess a different offensive arsenal in Julius Randle. He had a fine series against the Los Angeles Lakers in Round 1, but Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors wasn’t a night to remember.
The Timberwolves lost the game against the Warriors due to ineffective shooting and a lack of defense. The Warriors defended the perimeter well, and the Timberwolves couldn’t get it going from beyond the arc, shooting 17.2%.
Edwards had an off-shooting night even when the Warriors didn’t have Stephen Curry for most of the game. Thus, this loss hurts the Timberwolves, who hope to bounce back in the next matchup.
Even Randle had a low-scoring night compared to the numbers he put up for the Lakers series. So, let’s explore his output for Game 1 against the Warriors.
Julius Randle vs. Golden State Warriors: Game 1 Stats
| Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30:36 | 18 | 3 | 6 | 4/11 | 0/3 |
Randle vs. Warriors: How Did Randle Perform in Game 1?
Like other Timberwolves players, Randle struggled to get going by shooting bricks throughout the first half. He scored just eight points, probably better than Edwards’s, who had a night to forget.
The power forward couldn’t influence the game much inside the paint and missed shots in the first half with a shooting efficiency of 38%. Randle missed some open looks and committed three turnovers in the game.
But he did a better job in the second half, and we saw a better version of the former Lakers star. The Timberwolves star tweaked his gameplay, driving to the rim and drawing fouls. Randle shot 10-10 from the charity stripe, putting some points on the board.
While he didn’t get it going from the three-point line, he played some good passes to his teammates and finished the game with six assists. But for the Timberwolves to proceed, Randle must step up in Game 2.
Getting rebounds became an issue for the Timberwolves, who, unlike the Warriors, were not lacking in size. Thus, Randle’s three rebounds don’t paint a pretty picture.
Julius Randle vs. Warriors: Head-to-Head Career Stats
Before joining the Timberwolves this season, Randle played for the Knicks earlier and became a mainstay with Jalen Brunson. Yet, a shocking trade saw Karl-Anthony Towns head to the Knicks while Randle switched to the Timberwolves. Since then, the player has contributed immensely to the franchise.
He’s played 69 games, averaging 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in those games. Therefore, the player had some high-scoring games throughout the regular season, and his versatile offensive game helped the Timberwolves. Randle could shoot from the mid-range, beyond the arc, and even do well in the post.
With a reliable left hand and solid footwork for a big man, Randle’s record against the Warriors is pretty good. He’s averaged 17.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 23 games against Curry’s franchise.
In the playoffs this year, against the Lakers, Randle averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists, which shows his impact on the floor. The player also averaged 0.8 steals in that 4-1 series win.
Randle’s last 10 games vs. the Warriors
- February 23, 2021 – 25 pts, 10 rebs, 7 asts
- December 14, 2021 – 31 pts, 7 rebs, 3 asts
- February 10, 2022 – 28 pts, 16 rebs, 7 asts
- November 18, 2022 – 20 pts, 7 rebs, 2 asts
- December 20, 2022 – 15 pts, 12 rebs, 5 asts
- December 06, 2024 – 16 pts, 9 rebs, 4 asts
- December 08, 2024 – 14 pts, 11 rebs, 4 asts
- December 21, 2024 – 16 pts, 7 rebs, 6 asts
- January 15, 2025 – 17 pts, 6 rebs, 1 asts
- May 06, 2025 – 18 pts, 3 rebs, 6 asts
