The Minnesota Timberwolves were overwhelmed 133-95 by the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Wednesday night at Frost Bank Center, and Julius Randle pointed directly to execution issues as the turning point.
“We just didn’t play smart,” Randle said, describing the team’s offensive breakdown from the opening minutes. He added, “Turned the ball over myself. I turned it over too much. Bad shots. It just ignited their offense.”
San Antonio’s defensive pressure forced Minnesota into rushed decisions and unstable spacing, with Randle identifying the core issue behind it. “I think I’m just getting the ball in bad spots and getting trapped in bad areas,” he said. “So I got to get better position wherever I’m receiving the ball.”
He continued by outlining the adjustment needed against the Spurs’ trapping schemes. “Catching the ball in spots where they’re trapping me and it’s just kind of hard to outlet,” Randle said. “I just got to be better, doing my work before I get the ball.”
Minnesota struggled to establish rhythm as turnovers fueled transition opportunities for San Antonio, a point Randle connected to the game’s flow. “We didn’t play the smartest brand of basketball,” he said. “The coaches are giving us a great game plan and it’s just up to us to go out there and execute it better.”
The Spurs’ energy and physicality stood out across the box score, but Randle was direct about Minnesota’s response level. “We just got beat in every way possible,” he said. “They outhustled us, outphysicaled us, outexecuted us, played better defensively, more energy. They just beat us in every way in this game.”
San Antonio controlled the pace behind Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, while Minnesota shot just 29.8% in the first half and trailed by a wide margin early. The Timberwolves never recovered after the Spurs’ first-quarter surge.
Randle downplayed concerns about the blowout affecting the series momentum, pointing instead to Minnesota’s earlier win. “No, not really,” he said. “At the end of the day, we came here, we won a game. It’s a long series.”
Looking ahead to Game 3 in Minneapolis, he emphasized the reset required at home. “Come back, stay even keel, come out there, compete, play Timberwolves basketball how we know how to play,” Randle said. “Better execution on the offensive end.”
He also pointed to the importance of home support as the series shifts. “We’re excited anytime we get the chance to play in front of our home court,” he said. “The energy there when we play is crazy.”
With the series now tied 1-1, Minnesota returns home needing a sharper offensive structure and cleaner decision-making to avoid falling behind in a tightly contested Western Conference matchup.
