As the NBA Playoffs are down to just four teams remaining in the Conference Finals, certain players are under pressure in each team’s push for the NBA Finals.
The Western Conference Finals have been a back-and-forth matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Heading into Game 4 on Monday night, both teams have held their ground at home.
The Thunder won Games 1 and 2 in Oklahoma City, while the Timberwolves took Game 3 in Minneapolis.
There have been multiple players to step up for both teams, and former NBA champion and Hall of Famer Dwayne Wade mentioned the importance of Timberwolves forward Julius Randle.
“People like to (expletive) on Julius Randle… You can see the empowerment of everything and everyone around Julius, and it’s allowed Julius just to be him,” Wade said.
Julius Randle hasn’t had the smoothest sailing career leading up to this point, but he’s been able to counter the doubts and continue to succeed.
Randle was acquired with Donte DiVincenzo by the Timberwolves in the 2024 offseason in a package that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks.
This would make the Timberwolves his fourth team he’s been on since entering the league in 2014.
Although it was an up-and-down regular season for the 11-year veteran, he’s emerged as a key piece to Minnesota’s playoff push this season.
Through 13 games this postseason, he’s averaged 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists while 51% from the field.
It’s seemed to work out for both sides of the trade this season, as Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks are also playing for a ticket to the NBA Finals.
Both the Timberwolves and the Knicks are looking to flip the script as they each trail 2-1 in their respective conference finals matchups.
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