Mission accomplished for Timberwolves after reaching Western Conference finals

The Timberwolves have reached the final in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history, after a 121-110 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.

Julius Randle scored 29 points on 13-for-18 shooting, while Anthony Edwards had 22 points and 12 assists to seal a 4-1 win in the series.

Minnesota's 72 points in the paint were also tied for the third-most by any team in a playoff game over the past 25 postseasons.

"The challenge we laid down to our guys from day one was quite simple," Finch said after the win.

"It was one question: 'Were you a Western Conference finals team, or were you a team that just happened to make the Western Conference finals?'

"And there's only one way to prove that: Go out and do it again. And that was our mission all year."

Last year, Minnesota beat the Denver Nuggets over seven games in the semifinals before eventually losing 4-1 to the Dallas Mavericks in the West finals as they failed to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in their history.

WWWWolves. pic.twitter.com/TgXYM7jorZ

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 15, 2025

Rudy Gobert, who put in another strong closeout performance, scoring 17 points on 8-for-9 shooting and getting eight rebounds, believes this year, Minnesota have what it takes to get over the next hurdle.

"After a win like we had last year against Denver in Game 7, I felt like you get the whole world praising you," Gobert said.

"All of a sudden, you went from being the underdog to being the favorite. The way we weren't mature enough to handle that yet. We were aware of it. This year, we're mature enough."

Minnesota will face either the Nuggets or Oklahoma City Thunder in the finals, with the latter currently leading their series 3-2 ahead of Game 6 on Thursday.

As for the Warriors, coach Steve Kerr believes they might have had a chance to force a Game 6 if they had been able to call on Steph Curry.

Curry had been given the green light to start light workouts after suffering a strained left hamstring in Game 1, which Golden State won before losing the next four games in a row.

Jimmy Butler and Buddy Hield struggled in his absence, and though Brandin Podziemski finished with a playoff career-high 28 points, and Jonathan Kuminga provided 26 off the bench, it was too late for the Warriors, who suffered four straight postseason losses for the first time since 1972.

"I don't even have to think what [what would have happened if Curry had played]," Kerr said. "I know we had a shot. I know we could have gone the distance.