The Timberwolves have taken a commanding 3-1 series lead in the NBA playoffs over the Warriors. Minnesota’s push for a second-straight Western Conference Finals appearance wouldn’t be possible without Julius Randle. The power forward has carried the Wolves throughout the postseason, especially in round two vs. Golden State. What should betters expect from Randle tonight?
The Timberwolves enter tonight’s contest as 10.5-point favorites, with the over/under set at 202 points. Here’s the best Julius Randle prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook before Wednesday’s Game 5 tips off.
Julius Randle O 21.5 points (-110)
Mere months ago, the biggest knock on Julius Randle was his inability to perform in the playoffs. After just two weeks, that’s no longer an issue. This postseason, the three-time All-Star has averaged 23.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists while shooting 48.3% from the field. That production has been crucial for the Timberwolves given Anthony Edwards’ subpar play at the start of round two.
The Warriors are struggling, in large part due to the absence of Stephen Curry (hamstring). Still, this is one of the NBA’s better defensive units. In the regular season, Golden State held its opponents to the seventh-fewest points per game (109.9) Former Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green remains a factor. Two-way forward Jimmy Butler can wreak havoc on both ends of the floor.
Over their last three games, the Timberwolves haven’t had many issues handling Golden State. The Warriors have scored over 100 points only once during that time. In addition, Randle has been unstoppable. In Game 4, the veteran dropped 31 points, five rebounds and three assists over 41 minutes. During the matchup prior, Randle posted his first career playoff triple-double.
In the playoffs, Minnesota’s power forward has scored at least 22 points in seven of his nine outings. A down game is possible, especially with Green on the other side. However, Edwards is still the main focus for the Warriors on defense. Randle, being an experienced pro, is more than willing to wait his turn. Still, among the players to have reached the second round this postseason, the 30-year-old ranks eighth in points per 100 possessions (32.5). As long as Randle plays close to 40 minutes tonight, this is a very reasonable total to target.
