Julius Randle did not sound defeated after the Minnesota Timberwolves lost 126-97 to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 on Tuesday night, but he openly admitted the Wolves are running out of room for mistakes.
Minnesota now trails the second-round series 3-2 after another game filled with momentum swings, defensive breakdowns and long scoring droughts. Randle pointed to one issue above everything else: discipline.
“Just didn’t have the discipline I guess to do what was working,” Randle said postgame. “Offense is tough to come by so we find some success in something we got to keep with it and we just got to have the discipline and patience to do it.”
The Timberwolves erased an 18-point deficit early in the third quarter and tied the game at 61 after opening the half on a 14-2 run. The comeback quickly disappeared once San Antonio regained control behind Victor Wembanyama, who finished with 27 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks.
Randle believed Minnesota briefly found a formula that worked offensively by taking pressure off Anthony Edwards against San Antonio’s aggressive traps.
“Just getting off the ball and setting some screens for him,” Randle said. “So they can’t just trap him when he dribbles over half court.”
Randle explained how the Spurs have built their defense around forcing the ball out of Edwards’ hands before funneling everything back toward Wembanyama near the rim.
“Every time he dribbles over half court, they’re trapping and then they’re kind of fanning out once we pass out,” Randle said. “Trying to funnel everything back to the rim with Wemby.”
The Timberwolves forward added that Edwards became more effective when Minnesota used him as an off-ball scorer rather than allowing San Antonio to load up immediately.
“I think just getting him off the ball a little bit and just letting him come off some screens to where they just can’t trap him as soon as he has the ball,” Randle said.
Randle finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds but recorded only one assist, continuing a trend in the series where his playmaking opportunities have dropped sharply. When asked about the decline in assists, he admitted he still needs to study the film.
“I’m not sure,” Randle said. “Got to look at the tape.”
He also suggested Minnesota may need to reposition him offensively to unlock more creation opportunities.
“Maybe just getting more positions where I can play make,” Randle said. “Getting short rolls or in your pocket or elbows, whatever it is.”
The matchup problems created by Wembanyama remained central throughout the night. The Spurs star scored 18 points in the opening quarter alone and repeatedly punished Minnesota’s slow defensive rotations.
“Wemby’s super aggressive to start the game, so slow him down a little bit, too,” Randle said.
Even after Wembanyama’s explosive opening stretch, Randle thought Minnesota improved defensively later in the game.
“He had 16 to start the game in the first six or seven minutes and then he finished with 27,” Randle said. “So I think we did a good job of slowing him down.”
Still, he emphasized that Minnesota must crowd Wembanyama earlier and make him work before he finds rhythm.
“We just got to do a better job as a team to not let him be so aggressive to start the game,” Randle said. “Show him some more bodies, be a little more physical.”
Minnesota now returns home facing elimination in Game 6 on Friday night, while San Antonio sits one victory away from meeting the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals.
