The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards sat at the press conference table wearing black shades, studying the box score while clutching a Gary Payton Sr. jersey. A smirk appeared on Edwards’ face when asked about the audible pain of Warriors fans witnessing their team’s downfall.

Once viewed as a player who shrunk in the playoff spotlight, Julius Randle has been a revelation in his first postseason for the Timberwolves.

Minnesota needed someone to stabilize the ship to get across the finish line first in enemy waters. As has often been the case over the past couple months, that person was Julius Randle.