Julius Randle is showing that he's ready to reverse negative trend during key stretch

Things were looking bleak for Julius Randle after the All-Star break. In 11 games from February 20 to March 13, Randle was averaging just 13.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on 39.8/15.2/78.6 shooting splits. Needless to say, that's subpar production from the Minnesota Timberwolves' co-star.

However, after two strong back-to-back games, Randle seems to be righting the ship. During the Wolves' past two games against the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder, Randle has led the team in scoring, notching 32 points in both games.

With Anthony Edwards out for at least a week due to a knee injury, the need for Randle to get back on track has further heightened, especially with the Wolves fighting for homecourt advantage. 

If Tuesday's game is any indication, Randle seems poised to put together a quality stretch and help keep the Timberwolves afloat. Having Randle build some momentum ahead of the playoffs is vital, and this stretch without Edwards could help him do so.

Randle getting back on track would be a game-changer

Not to say that Ant and Randle don't complement each other well, but at times, this duo still looks like a work in progress. Additionally, in the 11 games that Ant has missed this season, Randle has risen to the occasion, averaging 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. Randle is far too erratic to be a true No. 1 option -- he might even be too inconsistent to be an elite No. 2 option. Regardless, there are times when he can look like a top-20 level player.

Randle's blend of high-level creation and playmaking can allow him to function as a de facto No. 1 option for a stretch (assuming his shots are falling at a decent rate). Having a strong string of games without Edwards can help Randle get into a rhythm, and once Ant returns, hopefully, he can be the co-star Minnesota needs him to be.

There are clear downsides to having a player as sporadic as Randle. Nevertheless, when he's in a groove, the Timberwolves' upside is immense, and he looks like an elite co-star. The best example of this is during the first two rounds of last year's playoffs, where Randle averaged 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists to help spark a conference finals run.

Undoubtedly, the Wolves will need this version of Randle if they stand any chance of making another deep playoff run. Overall, Randle's past two games are a promising sign that he could be out of his slump, and he may parlay this into a strong close to the season.