Julius Randle’s name was swirling in trade rumors leading up to the deadline, and when you add in the sting of missing out on an All-Star nod, it’s easy to see how the weight of it all might’ve started to show. But if the last two games are any indication, the Timberwolves’ veteran forward is shaking it off - and reminding everyone just how vital he is to Minnesota’s playoff ambitions.
“Julius is a guy who plays with his heart on his sleeve,” head coach Chris Finch said. “He was kind of not himself recently. … He’s so important for us in so many ways.”
That importance was on full display this week. First came a triple-double against Atlanta - 18 points, 12 boards, 10 assists - the kind of stat line that speaks to Randle’s all-around impact.
But then came Wednesday night’s performance against Portland, and that’s where things really clicked. Randle dropped 41 points, including a scorching 23 in the fourth quarter, while staying locked in defensively.
It was, by all accounts, his best game of the season - and maybe the clearest sign yet that he’s turned the corner.
Naz Reid summed it up best: “It gets everybody going. He can get as many triple-doubles as anybody.
He plays fast, plays strong, spaces the floor, he gets everybody else involved. I think that’s the key to winning, as well - just being super aggressive while also making sure everybody around you comes with you.”
The Timberwolves know they’ll need that version of Randle if they’re going to make another deep postseason run. His ability to be a physical force inside while also facilitating and stretching the floor gives Minnesota a dimension few teams can match. And when he’s emotionally locked in - when he’s playing with that edge - the rest of the roster feeds off it.
Backcourt Dynamics: DiVincenzo’s Role and Dosunmu’s Spark
While Ayo Dosunmu has quickly become a fan favorite thanks to his energy and pace, Donte DiVincenzo isn’t going anywhere - at least not from the starting lineup. DiVincenzo may not be a traditional point guard, but what he brings is harder to quantify in a box score: relentless effort, defensive grit, and a competitive fire that’s helped stabilize one of the league’s top starting units. His on/off numbers this season are among the best on the team - a testament to how much better the Wolves are when he’s on the floor.
Dosunmu, though, has carved out a role that’s becoming increasingly valuable - especially in transition. His speed and aggressiveness are helping unlock opportunities for guys like Jaden McDaniels, who’s been encouraged by Finch to be more assertive offensively.
“It’s been pretty good. He’s coming from Chicago, which plays super fast,” McDaniels said.
“I know that some plays, he’s outrunning all of us. He’s helping us run, he’s helping us get better.
I just like the energy he brings and the effort.”
That pace opens things up for McDaniels, who the coaching staff wants taking at least 10 shots a night - a threshold he hasn’t always reached. But with Dosunmu pushing the tempo, those looks are coming easier, and McDaniels is finding more rhythm in the flow of the offense.
Feeling the Pressure - and Embracing It
There’s a different kind of weight on this Timberwolves team - a collective pressure that hasn’t been there in years past. Expectations are higher.
The margin for error is thinner. And the path to proving they belong among the West’s elite runs straight through the postseason.
How far they need to go to shake that pressure? That remains to be seen. But if this week has shown anything, it’s that this group - led by a re-energized Randle, a steady DiVincenzo, and a sparkplug in Dosunmu - is starting to find its stride at just the right time.
And with the playoffs looming, that might be the most important development of all.