At Target Center in Minneapolis on Sunday, the Minnesota Timberwolves edged the San Antonio Spurs 114-109 in a pivotal Game 4 that tied the second-round playoff series at 2-2. Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle was central to the closing stretch, contributing 12 points, eight rebounds, and three assists while anchoring key possessions on both ends.
Randle described the mindset behind the late surge after the Wolves trailed by eight in the fourth quarter. “Just a battle, taking a possession at a time. We’ve been in those situations many times. So, you’ve got the experience and just keep battling, taking one possession at a time.”
The physical tone of the game defined the final minutes, and Randle pointed directly at how Minnesota responded. “Meet physicality with physicality. Usually the most aggressive team makes more plays, so just try to be up the physicality.”
Much of the fourth-quarter momentum came from Anthony Edwards, who scored 16 of his 36 points in the final frame. Randle did not hesitate in describing his teammate’s impact: “It was special. Super special. Anytime we needed a bucket, a tough shot or whatever play, he made it.”
The Spurs were forced into a structural shift after Victor Wembanyama’s early exit following a flagrant foul. Randle acknowledged the adjustment without overcomplicating it: “It’s different, but we obviously had to adjust and do some different things. Defensively for him it’s different. We adjusted pretty well.”
When asked about early turnovers and pace disruption, Randle was direct. “Yeah, I’m not sure. Can’t look at the film. I can’t really remember.”
With the series now level, Randle emphasized perspective rather than reaction. “Happy we got the win. It’s 2-2. We knew this series was going to be a battle. So just got to keep taking a game at a time, adjust, recover, figure out what we can do better, and get ready for game five.”
San Antonio’s offense, led by De’Aaron Fox and a guard-heavy attack, created consistent pressure in pick-and-roll actions. Randle identified that as a key stress point. “I think their high pick and roll was really effective like Fox. Obviously they wanted to have a point of emphasis to push the ball, miss or make, so we got to be better in that department.”
One of the defining moments of the night came when Naz Reid absorbed heavy contact and still finished the game strong. Randle praised that toughness: “It was incredible. He’s a warrior. Every time he’s out there he’s going to battle. For him to do that and continue to make plays throughout the game was big. We needed every single one of them.”
Randle also highlighted how small actions decided the outcome. “Just trying to do whatever my team needs to help us get the win.” He later added that defensive disruption and second-chance activity mattered just as much as scoring.
The Wolves closed strong behind execution in late possessions, something Randle connected to team identity. “Just be solid. We got to be able to play through adversity. It’s going to hit us in many different ways. So just be solid, play through adversity, stay together, and then execute down the stretch.”
A final highlight came when Jaden McDaniels delivered a full-court pass in a chaotic sequence, drawing praise from Randle. “That’s pretty impressive. His QB skills are impressive.”
Off the court, Randle acknowledged the presence of family in the arena, describing it as grounding during a high-pressure playoff environment. “Incredible. Those are two very strong women. They have my back, lift me up every single day.”
As the series shifts back to San Antonio for Game 5, the Timberwolves remain focused on consistency, physicality, and execution in tight margins, themes Randle repeatedly returned to throughout his postgame reflections.
