Will Julius Randle & Jaden McDaniels Play Tonight in Game 3 vs Thunder? Timberwolves Injury Report Before Do or Die Game

While the Wolves started as the hottest team in the league, winning 8 out of 10 games, they almost swept through the first two rounds of the playoffs. However, they are now in big trouble, as their WCF Game 2 loss has given the Thunder a two-game lead. This raises the questions for tonight’s game: If Chris Finch can coach successfully, can Edwards stay on the same pace? Will Julius Randle make a comeback?

So far, the OKC Thunder’s defense has been rock solid. It might be too speculative, but it seems like the Thunder want Minnesota to have the ball. Their defenders have shut down passing lanes and are on quick rotation to take over the paint, making it difficult for Reid, DiVincenzo, and Jaden McDaniels to score. This puts all the responsibility on Edwards and Randle. While Edwards tried to keep the momentum going with his 32 points, it just was not enough.

On the other hand, Randle became almost invisible in Game 2. After his 28 points in Game 1, the MVP had a lot of expectations riding on him in Game 2. But with only 6 points in thirty-two minutes, Coach Finch benched him. While most suspect it was a loss of faith in his ability to perform, Finch insisted, “I thought Naz had a good game going, just wanted to see if I could spread the floor and get some quick decision making out there”. After OKC’s win in the first two games, this series is set to be one-sided if the Wolves do not step up. For Randle, he must prove that he is still reliable. With that, the question is: will the All-Star be on the court tomorrow? Well, the injury reports say Julius Randle is fit to return.

Dec 4, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) re-enters the game during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Moreover, according to the ESPN, the entire Minnesota bench is healthy. Jaden McDaniels, the Wolves forward who posted 22 points, will also be joining the team. Let’s now see what is in store for the Wolves tonight.

Will the Timberwolves finally make a comeback in WCF Game 3?

With two straight losses in enemy territory, the Wolves finally get to play at home. For tonight’s crucial match, Minnesota will face off the Thunder at Target Center. The Wolves are long overdue their share of luck. Now, let’s find out which possible starting lineup coach Finch has in for tonight:

Point Guard	Shooting Guard	Small Forward	Power Forward	Center
Mike Conley Jr.	Anthony Edwards	Jaden McDaniels	Julius Randle	Rudy Gobert
Donte DiVincenzo	Nickeil-Alexander Walker	Jaylen Clark	Terrence Shannon Jr.	Naz Reid
Rob Dillingham	Tristen Newton	Josh Minott	Leonard Miller	Luka Garza
Bones Hyland		Joe Ingles		Jesse Edwards

While the Wolves mostly struggled through Game 2, the OKC Thunder surely had a different night. SGA dominated the court with his 38 points and eight assists, living up to his MVP namesake. “He came ready to play,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. “He led with his approach, his force, his blend. Threw great passes, picked his spots … kept the scoreboard moving down the stretch.” The starting lineup for the Thunder may be:

Point Guard	Shooting Guard	Small Forward	Power Forward	Center
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	Lu Dort	Jalen Williams	Chet Holmgren	Isaiah Hartenstein
Cason Wallace	Alex Caruso	Isaiah Joe	Aaron Wiggins	Jaylin Williams
Ajay Mitchell	Adam Flagler	Alex Ducas	Kenrich Williams	Branden Carlson
		Dillon Jones	Ousmane Dieng

With frustrations boiling over in the last match, McDaniels shoved SGA down in the fourth quarter. McDaniels said, “I wasn’t even mad. I just had fouls to use.” Similarly, the expectation for on-court drama is high. So, which team are you going to cheer for?

The post Will Julius Randle & Jaden McDaniels Play Tonight in Game 3 vs Thunder? Timberwolves Injury Report Before Do or Die Game appeared first on EssentiallySports.