The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Golden State Warriors 117-93 to even the series at 1-1. Julius Randle was the biggest contributor to the Wolves’ Game 2 victory. With Anthony Edwards struggling under tight defense and dealing with an ankle injury, Randle took over as the team's offensive and organizational leader, finishing with 24 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds — reaching the 20+10 mark by the end of the third quarter.

Randle has been remarkably consistent throughout this postseason. He’s the Timberwolves’ second scoring option behind Edwards, and his efficiency has even surpassed Edwards'. While Game 1 against the Warriors was his weakest performance, he bounced back in Game 2, punishing Golden State's small-ball lineup early by attacking the paint. In the first quarter alone, he went 2-for-5 from the field and 3-for-3 from the line for 7 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists.

In the second quarter, Randle hit a three-pointer and led the charge as Edwards left for the locker room, helping Minnesota extend its lead to 17 by halftime. At the half, he had 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists on 6-of-11 shooting and 1-of-2 from deep — proving himself capable of being a primary offensive weapon.

After the break, Randle continued to carry the team, especially as Edwards’ movement was clearly hindered. Randle relentlessly attacked the rim and drew multiple defenders, dishing out 6 assists in the third quarter alone — at least 4 of them leading to three-pointers. By the end of the third, Randle had 20 points, 10 assists, and 6 rebounds on 8-of-15 shooting.

When the Warriors trimmed the lead to 17 early in the fourth, Chris Finch subbed Randle back in to stabilize the game. Randle responded with a strong finish through contact against Davis and followed it up with another drive that forced Steve Kerr to wave the white flag with 4:03 left. In those 4 minutes, Randle added 4 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist, going 2-for-2.

Randle played 33 minutes, finishing with 24 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds on 10-of-17 shooting (58.8%) and a true shooting percentage of 65.5%. He had a game-high +17 plus-minus.

He became the first Timberwolves player since Kevin Garnett to record at least 20 points, 10 assists, and 5 rebounds in a playoff game.

American media outlets have highlighted a rare three-team trade between the Knicks, Timberwolves, and Hornets, calling it a historic win-win deal — especially praising the fit of Randle in Minnesota's system.