Julius Randle scored 29 points as Minnesota beat Golden State 121-110 and reached the Western Conference finals for a second straight year.
The Timberwolves won the series 4-1 behind a franchise playoff record 62.8% shooting performance.
Minnesota take control before half-time
Randle made 13 of 18 shots and added eight rebounds and five assists.
Anthony Edwards finished with 22 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds as Minnesota built a 62-47 half-time lead.
The advantage reached 25 in the third quarter. Golden State cut it to 99-90 in the fourth, but Edwards answered with a three-pointer.
Rudy Gobert scored 17, Mike Conley added 16 and Jaden McDaniels had 14 with four steals.
Warriors cannot replace Curry’s scoring
Golden State played without Stephen Curry, who had been sidelined since straining his hamstring in Game 1.
Brandin Podziemski scored a playoff career-high 28 points and Jonathan Kuminga added 26 from the bench.
Coach Steve Kerr refused to use Curry’s absence as an excuse. “I don’t want to take anything away from what Minnesota just accomplished,” he said.
Randle trade helps Minnesota return
Minnesota acquired Randle and Donte DiVincenzo from New York shortly before training camp in a deal that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks.
The Wolves were 32-29 at the end of February and in danger of falling into the play-in tournament before finding their form.
“We went through a lot of growing pains,” coach Chris Finch said. “The team has come together at the right time.”
Edwards demands more
Finch had challenged his team before the season to prove that its 2024 conference-finals run was not a one-off.
Minnesota answered by reaching the same stage again and closing a playoff series at home for the first time in 21 years.
Edwards was not ready to celebrate. “There is no satisfaction,” he said. “We just got here.”
