Dominating the Lakers: Just How Good Is Julius Randle in the Playoffs?

In a stunning Game 5 performance, the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers with a 103-96 victory, taking the series 4-1 and advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals. While Rudy Gobert rightfully stole the headlines with a monstrous 27-point, 24-rebound effort, the silent engine behind the Timberwolves’ entire series may very well have been Julius Randle — a player long criticized for his playoff shortcomings.

This time, though, Randle wasn’t just along for the ride. He was steering it.

The Rudy Gobert Show in Game 5

Before diving into Randle’s performance, it’s impossible to overlook what Gobert accomplished in this decisive game. With Anthony Edwards shooting a dismal 0-for-11 from beyond the arc and tallying only 15 points, it was Gobert who stepped up in crunch time.

Gobert logged 38 minutes and was nearly perfect from the field, shooting 12-for-15. His final stat line: 27 points, 24 rebounds, 2 blocks. To understand just how massive this game was:

• Gobert set career playoff highs in both points and rebounds.

• He grabbed 9 offensive rebounds — more than the entire Lakers team combined.

• He became only the second Timberwolves player in franchise history to post a 20+ point, 20+ rebound playoff game, joining Kevin Garnett.

• He dunked the ball 8 times, the most in a playoff game since Shaquille O’Neal.

• His +18 plus-minus was the highest on either side.

It was a career-defining night — one that even Lakers forward Marcus Morris acknowledged as Gobert’s best performance ever.

But as great as Gobert was in Game 5, the real consistency throughout the series came from Julius Randle.

Randle’s Redemption Tour

Let’s be honest — Randle came into this series with a reputation. In two prior postseason appearances with the New York Knicks, he was underwhelming, to put it kindly:

• 2021 Playoffs: 18.0 PPG, 4.0 APG, 4.6 TO, 29.8 FG%

• 2023 Playoffs: 16.6 PPG, 3.6 APG, 3.5 TO, 37.4 FG%

His inability to perform when it mattered most earned him the dreaded “regular season warrior, playoff liability” label. That’s why when the Timberwolves traded Karl-Anthony Towns for Randle last summer, it was widely panned. Many assumed Minnesota had downgraded in talent and ceiling.

Those doubters? Randle just lit them on fire.

Through five games against the Lakers, Randle didn’t just hold his own — he excelled:

• Game 1: 16 pts, 5 rebs, 5 asts (6-11 FG)

• Game 2: 27 pts, 4 rebs, 6 asts (6-17 FG)

• Game 3: 22 pts, 5 rebs, 4 asts (6-13 FG)

• Game 4: 25 pts, 7 rebs, 3 asts (9-22 FG)

• Game 5: 23 pts, 5 rebs, 4 asts (8-16 FG)

That’s an average of 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.8 steals, on shooting splits of 48.1% FG / 39.3% 3PT / 83.9% FT, with a 61.0% true shooting percentage.

Those are elite numbers, not just solid ones. And when Minnesota needed him most in Game 5 — with Edwards cold and the Lakers charging — it was Randle who delivered in the clutch. He scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, playing all 12 minutes. Two plays stood out: a high-arching floater over Austin Reaves and a tough driving layup against Luka Dončić (yes, the Lakers' trade deadline move brought Dončić west — wild timeline).

Randle’s Defensive Impact

What may be even more surprising is Randle’s defense. No one confuses him with a lockdown defender, but he did more than hold his own against one of the game’s all-time greats. Randle guarded LeBron James for 40 minutes across the series, totaling 180 possessions. In that time:

• LeBron shot 10-for-25 overall (40%)

• Just 3-for-13 from three (23%)

• Scored only 27 points

Randle didn’t shut LeBron down — few can — but he made him work for every bucket. That level of two-way engagement is a new wrinkle in Randle’s game. One that could define his future in Minnesota.

A Win-Win Trade?

Let’s revisit that summer trade. On paper, it looked like a downgrade for Minnesota:

• They gave up Karl-Anthony Towns, a three-time All-Star, for a player with a playoff track record like a broken clock.

• Randle’s regular season numbers dipped: 18.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.7 APG on 48.5% shooting.

But zoom out, and it’s hard to say the Timberwolves didn’t come out ahead.

Towns is thriving in New York, likely heading toward an All-NBA selection after averaging 21.6 points and 9.0 rebounds on absurd shooting splits of 50/50/94. That’s not a typo. He’s shooting 50% from deep on volume.

But Minnesota also received:

• Donte DiVincenzo, a do-it-all guard whose defense gave L.A. fits this series (8.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.4 APG).

• A first-round pick, helping replenish a draft cupboard that had been emptied in the Gobert trade.

They also freed up cap space, as Randle’s contract is significantly smaller than Towns’. That savings gave them enough flexibility to retain Naz Reid, who has been one of the most valuable bench bigs in the league.

So yes, Towns may be better in a vacuum. But in the context of fit, finances, and flexibility, this deal has the makings of a true win-win — maybe even an edge to Minnesota if Randle continues this level of play.

The Road Ahead

Of course, it’s important to acknowledge the elephant in the room: the Lakers’ depleted interior.

Between injuries and mismatches, Los Angeles lacked any sort of paint presence in this series. That created a highway for Gobert and Randle to operate in the post, drive the lane, and control the glass. Things will be very different in Round 2.

The Timberwolves are set to face either:

• The Golden State Warriors, featuring Draymond Green, a former DPOY and playoff-tested enforcer who knows every trick in the book.

• The Houston Rockets, led by rising star Alperen Şengün, whose combination of size, footwork, and IQ makes him a problem on both ends.

Both matchups will present defensive coverages far more challenging than anything the Lakers could muster. The physicality will be ramped up, spacing will be tighter, and offensive windows will shrink.

This will be the true test of Randle’s evolution.

Is he the player we’ve seen these five games — smart, tough, efficient, and engaged? Or will old habits return under playoff pressure? Can he continue to make timely reads and hit tough shots when the defense adjusts? Will his defense hold up against elite competition?

If Randle meets the moment again, Minnesota might not just reach the Western Conference Finals — they might be a legitimate title contender.

Commentary:

Julius Randle has rewritten his postseason narrative in real time. The player once mocked for wilting under pressure has become Minnesota’s metronome — steady, fearless, and increasingly efficient. While Rudy Gobert’s Game 5 was a masterpiece, it’s Randle’s consistency that has anchored the Timberwolves’ surprising rise.

His transformation is almost cinematic: the flawed hero who finds redemption when the stakes are highest. If he can sustain this level against elite playoff defenses, the league might need to stop calling this a “hot streak” and start calling it a breakthrough.

So the question isn’t just how far can the Timberwolves go? — it might be: is this the birth of a new Randle era in the playoffs?