Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch praised his team’s balanced effort after their 121-110 Game 5 victory over the Golden State Warriors. The win secured the Timberwolves’ second straight trip to the Western Conference Finals.
Finch said he was confident his team would find an offensive rhythm, despite the challenges posed by Golden State’s defense. He noted the Timberwolves showed resilience, especially with veteran leaders like Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert, and Julius Randle stepping up.
“Our vets really led the way,” Finch said. “It was great to see Donte with a big game out there again. Everybody stepped up and played really well.”
Reflecting on the season’s ups and downs, Finch emphasized the importance of proving they are a true Western Conference Finals team by repeating the achievement. “There were a lot of growing pains, but the team’s come together at the right time and playing its best basketball,” he said.
On turnovers, Finch admitted some were unforced and occurred in transition. Still, he praised the team’s ball movement and spacing. “The ball movement was great. Guys did a good job figuring out the zone and changing defenses.”
Finch highlighted Mike Conley’s impact, especially in the first half when the game was close. He explained how resting Conley early helped keep him effective later. “He was absolutely huge today,” Finch said.
The coach credited the Timberwolves’ defense for limiting Jimmy Butler’s playmaking. He mentioned players like Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, Anthony Edwards, and Rudy Gobert helped contain Butler by using their physicality and length.
Ant Edwards set a career playoff high with 12 assists, and the team recorded a franchise playoff record of 36 assists. Finch said Edwards’ passing fueled the offense. “He did a really good job finding people and making the right plays.”
Looking ahead, Finch welcomed the few days off before the Western Conference Finals. “It’ll be good to take a breath, regroup, and figure out where we’re going.”
Finch spoke about Julius Randle’s physicality and defensive commitment as key factors in his playoff success. He said, “His offense is phenomenal, but his defense and commitment have been absolutely top drawer.”
Discussing the team’s versatility, Finch said they have multiple ways to win, from defense to individual scoring nights to total team efforts. He praised the veterans’ selflessness and the balance they maintain on both ends of the floor.
Finch described the team’s growth as a journey and credited resiliency and connectivity for their success. “The path to success is not always linear,” he said, adding that lessons learned from last year’s playoffs helped the Timberwolves improve.
Finally, Finch addressed the impact of Steph Curry’s injury on the series. He acknowledged the loss was significant for Golden State but said Minnesota’s business-like approach helped them capitalize.
“We took care of business, and that’s not something we’ve always done,” Finch said.
The Timberwolves will face either the Denver Nuggets or Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals after advancing past the Warriors.
