There's no such thing as a moral victory in the NBA. A 13-point loss against the biggest threat to their championship hopes certainly doesn't qualify as that for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
However, I do believe in the idea of silver linings -- and the Wolves got one of the best possible silver linings during Sunday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, that of course being the play of Julius Randle. The 6-foot-9 forward was a clear bright spot for the Timberwolves, pouring in 32 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
Since the All-Star break, Randle has been in a massive slump. Entering Sunday's game, he was averaging 13.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 3.2 turnovers on 39.8/15.2/78.6 shooting splits in the post All-Star break segment of the season. Needless to say, having this lack of production from your No. 2 option is problematic, and seeing Randle have a bounce-back game is a great sign.
Randle having this type of game against the Thunder, a team he has historically struggled against, adds to the importance of this performance. As the playoffs near, Randle needs to get back on track fast, and this game could very well be the turning point for him.
The Timberwolves need a consistent Julius Randle to reach their ceiling
The Timberwolves are simply a different team when Randle is at his best. He provides some much-needed secondary shot creation and playmaking next to Anthony Edwards. In the playoffs, his impact will be even more vital as teams will be especially focused on stopping Edwards. When he's on his A-game, Randle looks like a truly elite second-option, and that's exactly what he looked like on Sunday.
Beyond simply better results, there were a lot of encouraging signs from Randle's process on Sunday. One thing that stood out was that he was making quicker decisions both as a scorer and playmaker. He was attacking downhill, getting to his spots as a scorer, hitting 3-pointers, and did a great job of handling pressure from OKC's stellar defense. Only committing one turnover is a clear positive, especially when the team had 22 turnovers.
This quick decision-making and impressive shot-making is exactly what the Wolves will need from Randle in the playoffs -- it's also something he's historically struggled with against the Thunder.
Just as importantly, Randle held his own on defense. He played physical defense down low and switched on to the perimeter smoothly while remaining engaged off the ball. Randle's off-ball engagement has undoubtedly been one of the more concerning aspects of his season and recent slump.
The Wolves will be counting on Randle to guard opposing forwards (often stars) in the playoffs, and he'll need to prove that he can rise to the occasion. Last year, we saw him play tremendous defense on LeBron James in the playoffs, which was a big reason the Wolves pulled off a first round upset.
It's clear that for the Timberwolves to reach their ceiling, they'll need consistent play from Randle on both ends of the floor. Hopefully, this game is a turning point for him. Last season, the Wolves built some serious momentum before the playoffs, going 17-4 down the stretch. This was coupled with Randle playing his best basketball of the season -- which translated into the playoffs.
With 14 games left, let's hope that the Timberwolves can have a similar close to the season and Randle rights the ship. Ultimately, while losing to OKC stings, Randle's play should give Timberwolves fans a clear glimmer of hope.