The Minnesota Timberwolves moved to a 3-1 series lead with a 112-96 win over the Denver Nuggets at Target Center on Saturday night. The game shifted after key injuries to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, forcing Minnesota into a deep rotation response.
Julius Randle emphasized composure as the turning point in the win. “We knew we got more than enough to do what we needed to do. It was just about us staying poised and going out there still sticking to the game, playing for each other.”
The emotional impact of DiVincenzo’s injury was immediate, according to Randle. “It’s tough. When you go to war with somebody every night and you watch somebody compete the way Donte competes and prepares himself, the dude played all 82 games. He’s the ultimate competitor and what he brings to our team. To see that happen to him was tough.”
Randle also pointed to defense as the foundation of Minnesota’s response. “It’s not really necessarily our offense, it’s our defense. We know that if we just continue to defend and get stops, we’re going to give ourselves a chance to win every single night.”
He stressed that defensive consistency defined the second-half surge. “Just keep defending, keep trying to limit them to one shot. Just keep winning the margins, doing the small things, whether we miss or make shots, and keep defending.”
At halftime, Randle said the message stayed simple despite adversity. “We just kept telling each other we got more than enough in here to win. That’s just the truth. We got more than enough talent in here to win.”
He also noted how the locker room managed the emotional swing. “We knew we had more than enough to win and it was going to take everybody chipping in and leaning on each other. Everybody had moments.”
On Ayo Dosunmu’s breakout performance, Randle admitted his initial read on the guard’s ceiling changed quickly. “I didn’t know he was that damn good. I’m not going to lie to you.”
The Timberwolves forward also highlighted the team’s mental approach as a key separator in the series. “We just got to sustain mental toughness throughout the game and closing games.”
