A Message Sent — and Heard
One year removed from a surprising playoff breakthrough, the Minnesota Timberwolves are proving it wasn’t a fluke.
On Wednesday night in Minneapolis, they made a clear statement, dispatching the Golden State Warriors 121-110 in Game 5 to return to the Western Conference Finals for the second straight year. And this time, they believe they’re ready.
“Were you a Western Conference finals team, or were you just a team that happened to make the Western Conference finals?” head coach Chris Finch asked his players at the season’s start. “Go out and do it again.”
They did — with authority.
A Historic Night on Offense
The Timberwolves’ offense was nearly unstoppable:
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62.8% shooting from the field — 3rd-highest in a series-clinching game since the shot clock era began
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72 points in the paint — tied for 3rd most in a playoff game in the last 25 years
Their offensive efficiency was powered by smart playmaking, elite finishing, and relentless paint pressure.
Edwards Leads the Charge, Randle Delivers Again
Anthony Edwards continues to evolve into one of the NBA’s most complete stars. He logged:
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22 points
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Playoff career-high 12 assists
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6 rebounds
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3 blocks
Julius Randle was the steadying force again, with 29 points on 13-of-18 shooting, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists — continuing what’s been arguably the most impactful stretch of his career.
“Ant’s passing got us started,” Finch said. “We had 36 assists as a team — that’s a franchise playoff record.”
Veteran Impact and Role Player Excellence
Mike Conley, in his 18th season, added 16 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds — finally beating Golden State in the playoffs after previous heartbreaks.
Jaden McDaniels and Donte DiVincenzo were pivotal on both ends:
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McDaniels: 14 points, 4 steals, 41 minutes
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DiVincenzo: 13 points, 6 assists, 4 steals off the bench
It was a total team effort, executed with maturity and hunger.
A New Standard in Minnesota
The Timberwolves aren’t just winning — they’re setting new standards:
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Edwards joined Kevin Garnett as the only Wolves with 1,000+ playoff points
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First playoff series clinched on home court since the Garnett era
“We just got here. We haven’t done anything yet,” Edwards said.
The tone from the team is clear: this is only the beginning.
Looking Ahead: Oklahoma City or Denver
Minnesota now waits to see if Oklahoma City will close out Denver in Game 6. If so, Game 1 of the Conference Finals could tip off as early as Sunday in OKC.
Regardless of opponent, the Timberwolves are embracing the underdog role.
“No one expected us to beat the Lakers. No one expected us to beat the Warriors,” DiVincenzo said. “We just stick together.”
And now they’re sticking around — with more belief than ever before.
