Julius Randle provided the scoring punch for the hapless Timberwolves in their 114-88 setback in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
But the former Knicks big man had other troubles on the offensive end that could spell trouble for Minnesota going forward in this series against the Thunder.
For years, Randle has been one of the most turnover-prone players in the NBA.
During the regular season, Randle’s 12.2 turnovers per 100 possessions were among the highest in the league among players with at least 65 games played.
In the second half of Game 1, after Randle dropped 20 points through two quarters, the Thunder put defensive wizard Alex Caruso on him.
In less than three minutes with Caruso defending him, Randle had two turnovers.
Randle also had a hard time with the 7-foot-1 Chet Holmgren guarding him, giving the ball up another two times.
In all, Randle had a game-high five turnovers.
With the help of Caruso, Holmgren, and OKC’s wing-heavy lineup, the Thunder turned Nikola Jokic — one of the best offensive players in NBA history — into a turnover machine during the semifinal round.
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If they handle Randle in a similar way, it could get even uglier in terms of coughing the ball up as this series goes on.
As the hub of the Timberwolves’ offense during this playoff run, Randle has four or more turnovers in four straight games.
Bet on him to make it five Thursday night in Oklahoma City.
The Thunder are 7.5-point favorites for this contest, while the total has been set at 214.5.
The play: Julius Randle Over 3.5 turnovers (+100, Caesars Sportsbook)
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Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst across many sports. He’s particularly knowledgeable about the big three — MLB, the NFL and the NBA.
