Warriors struggle again to stop Timberwolves stars Edwards and Randle (The Canadian Press)
The Golden State Warriors continue to struggle on defense. In Game 4 of their playoff series, they couldn’t contain Minnesota Timberwolves stars Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle. The result? A 117-110 loss at home, leaving Golden State trailing 3-1 in the best-of-seven Western Conference showdown.
Timberwolves Take Over Third Quarter
Midway through the third quarter, the Timberwolves flipped the script. Edwards drained back-to-back three-pointers in just 33 seconds. He raised his hands in celebration as the crowd gasped. That moment marked a turning point.
The Wolves went on a dominant 17-0 run in the third quarter. Edwards was electric, scoring 11 points during that stretch. He ended the night with 11-of-21 shooting, including six made threes.
Golden State had no answers.
Randle Dominates Early, Edwards Finishes Strong
Julius Randle set the tone early. He scored 19 of his 31 points in the first half. Randle, too, went 11 for 21 from the field, proving to be unstoppable inside the paint.
He came into Game 4 with momentum. In Game 3, Randle posted a triple-double, leading Minnesota to a 102-97 victory. Over four games, his consistency has been remarkable — scoring 18, 24, 24, and now 31 points.
Meanwhile, Edwards continued his tear. He may have started slowly on Monday, shooting 5-of-14 in the first half. But he exploded after halftime, sealing the win with deep threes and clutch plays. His step-back triple before the buzzer narrowed the Warriors’ halftime lead to 60-58, giving Minnesota a boost heading into the third.
Warriors Miss Curry, Defense Lacking
Golden State missed the steady hand of Stephen Curry, who remains sidelined due to injury. Without him, their offense looked disconnected. Defensively, they failed to keep up with Minnesota’s stars.
Coach Steve Kerr had emphasized the need to “figure out a way to slow them down.” That didn’t happen. The Timberwolves made 16 of their 34 three-point attempts. The Warriors just couldn’t match the firepower.
Klay Thompson and Draymond Green gave solid efforts. But they couldn’t cover for Curry’s absence. Jimmy Butler, another key contributor, also struggled to take over the game.
Timberwolves in Control, Warriors on the Brink
The Timberwolves now have a commanding 3-1 series lead. Game 5 shifts to Minneapolis, where Minnesota will look to close things out on home turf.
Golden State is in do-or-die territory. They’ll need a miracle to stay alive. Their defense, once a strength, has become a liability — and against a team as aggressive as the Timberwolves, that's a dangerous weakness.
The Warriors have the experience. But unless they find a way to contain Edwards and Randle, their playoff run could be over.
Game 5 tips off Wednesday. All eyes will be on Golden State — to see if they can respond, or if their season ends early.
