Julius Randle’s impressive performance with 29 points on 13-for-18 shooting propelled the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Western Conference finals.
They secured a 121-110 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 5. Anthony Edwards contributed significantly with 22 points and 12 assists. The Wolves, seeded sixth, will next face either Denver or Oklahoma City.
The Warriors struggled without Stephen Curry, who was sidelined due to a hamstring injury sustained in Game 1. Brandin Podziemski stepped up with a playoff career-high of 28 points, but it wasn’t enough. Jonathan Kuminga added energy off the bench with 26 points. However, consistent production from Jimmy Butler and Buddy Hield was lacking after their strong start in the series opener.
Minnesota’s diverse scoring options proved too much for Golden State’s defense, which had been more challenging than the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. Rudy Gobert dominated near the rim with 17 points, while Mike Conley added 16 points and eight assists. Donte DiVincenzo broke out of his slump with 13 points as the Wolves shot an impressive 77% on two-pointers.
Randle maintained his exceptional postseason form, consistently energising his team. A pivotal moment came when Jaden McDaniels grabbed a rebound from Draymond Green’s missed three-pointer and passed to Randle for a layup and three-point play, extending their lead to 62-47.
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Derrick White led the Boston Celtics with a stellar performance, scoring 34 points including seven three-pointers. This effort helped them secure a crucial 127-102 win over the New York Knicks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Celtics made an impressive total of 22 three-pointers to claim their first home victory of this series.
Despite missing Jayson Tatum due to an Achilles tendon injury, Boston stayed alive in the playoffs. Jaylen Brown added valuable support with 26 points and 12 assists, while Luke Kornet contributed defensively with nine rebounds and seven blocks. The Celtics aim to become just the 14th team to overcome a 3-1 deficit in NBA history.
Josh Hart led the Knicks with 24 points despite briefly leaving due to a facial injury from an elbow hit. Jalen Brunson scored 22 before fouling out late in the game. Boston overcame a nine-point deficit by ending the third quarter on a strong run, taking control into the fourth quarter.
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The Celtics extended their lead to as much as 28 points in the final period, maintaining momentum throughout. The Knicks will have another chance to close out the series on Friday in New York. If Boston wins again, they will host Game 7 on Monday.