MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves have the assets to repeat or even surpass their run last year to the Western Conference finals, with a go-to player who is one of the biggest stars, a couple of shutdown defenders and a productive and versatile bench, to name a few.
They are playing at full strength, too, which goes a long way toward success in the NBA playoffs.
After navigating extended injury absences for three of their top six scorers, the Timberwolves got healthy in plenty of time for the postseason. Boosted by better size, depth, defense and chemistry than their first-round opponent, they’re up 2-1 on the Los Angeles Lakers.
The other clear edge they have on the Lakers entering Game 4 on their home court? Health.
L.A.’s Luka Doncic struggled through a stomach illness in Game 3 and had only 17 points, the second-lowest total in a playoff game of his spectacular career. Even if he’s feeling better, he has only 40 hours to rest between games.
“Hopefully, whatever’s going on, he feels better on Sunday,” coach J.J. Redick said. “I’m not a doctor.”
Fortunately for the Lakers, LeBron James is in good shape. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer had 38 points in Game 3, the most in postseason history by a player 40 or older, exactly two weeks after he strained his left hip flexor.
“He’s moving better. Seems like he’s getting healthier by the day,” Redick said.
Injuries are always a factor in the playoffs, and that trend hasn’t fizzled this spring. Boston (Jayson Tatum), Cleveland (Darius Garland), Golden State (Jimmy Butler) and Memphis (Ja Morant) are among the teams with All-Stars who have been banged up in their series.
The Celtics, after getting Tatum back from the first postseason absence of his career, lost Game 3 in Orlando on Friday without point guard Jrue Holiday, leaving his status in question for Game 4.
In the other two Eastern Conference series being played Sunday, Detroit has been down starting shooting guard Jaden Ivey since early January and played without backup big man Isaiah Stewart for the past two games. The Pistons trail New York, 2-1. Milwaukee point guard Damian Lillard returned for Game 2 after a monthlong absence, but the Bucks trail Indiana, 2-1.
Nobody on the Timberwolves has appreciated being healthy more than Julius Randle, who missed the playoffs last spring with the Knicks and was sidelined the entire month of February with Minnesota.
Randle has been a force in this series, with 49 points and 10 assists over the past two games. His energy, hustle and vision were just as vital for the Timberwolves in Game 3 as his production, ably filling the role as the secondary scorer to Anthony Edwards.
“I try to make the game as easy as possible as I can for him,” Randle said. “He draws so much attention when he has the ball in his hands.”