Julius Randle Changes the Script, Puts Wolves in Driver’s Seat vs. Warriors

May 10, 2025

Julius Randle may not be a household name in Minnesota just yet, but he’s quickly etching his name into Timberwolves postseason lore — and Steve Kerr is running out of answers.

Randle followed up his Game 2 gem with a full-on playoff masterpiece Saturday, recording 24 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists in the Wolves’ 102-97 Game 3 win at Golden State.

That’s a triple-double, for those keeping score at home — just the second in franchise postseason history, joining only Kevin Garnett. And five of those dimes came in the fourth quarter, when Minnesota outscored Golden State 33-24 to steal one on the road and take a 2-1 series lead.

Call it Playoff Jimmy vs. Playmaking Julius. Jimmy Butler did his part, dropping 33 points with seven boards and seven assists, while Jonathan Kuminga added a career-playoff-best 30 points off the bench. But it wasn’t enough — not with Randle in command and Anthony Edwards going nuclear after halftime, pouring in 28 of his 36 points in the second half.

It all sets the stage for what could be a backbreaker for the Warriors, who now face Game 4 without Stephen Curry (left hamstring) and with virtually no margin for error. Curry’s not even being re-evaluated until sometime before Game 6. That means Kerr’s group has to survive at least one more night without its star, and that’s assuming there’s a Game 6 at all.

Kerr may have stumbled into something with Kuminga, who played aggressively on both ends and brought energy when Golden State needed it most. But he’ll need more. Brandin Podziemski is shooting the Warriors out of games — he was 1-for-10 on Saturday — and Buddy Hield didn’t come alive until it was too late. To top it off, Draymond Green fouled out with 4:38 to play in a one-possession game. The Wolves pounced.

Minnesota now heads into Monday night’s Game 4 with house money. They’ve already regained home-court advantage. They’ve survived the best of Butler and Kuminga. They’ve found a rhythm in a playoff setting that’s historically rattled them.

If Randle and Edwards are anywhere near this version of themselves again, it might not matter what the Warriors throw at them — especially without Curry.