NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS: TIMBERWOLVES VS WARRIORS

May 12, 2025

Jaden McDaniels

Minnesota Timberwolves

Game 4 - Postgame Media Conference

Minnesota Timberwolves 117, Golden State Warriors 110

Q. Jaden, first half you guys were getting outrebounded 25-15, you got one and you got 12 in the second half yourself. What was the switch or thing you were able to flip to get it going in the second half?

JADEN McDANIELS: Just knowing they was getting a lot of second chance so just willing to hold them to one shot each possession and just making an effort to go crash every time offensively, defensively, and just be relentless while doing it.

Q. Their defense has been hard to solve for a lot of the series. Do you think you guys figured some things out in that third quarter that you can carry over to close this out?

JADEN McDANIELS: We have just ball movement versus zone, that's what helped break the zone. We just had to figure that out after a couple possessions and then feels like when we did that, if they got out of it, we were able to play freely like we usually do.

Q. You've seen Ant get on those rolls before. What's it like on the floor in that moment?

JADEN McDANIELS: In that moment I'm a fan like y'all. It's exciting, and, I mean, he put in the work every day, so that's not a surprise to me.

Q. Starting the third quarter, what do you think that shot he made right there at the end of the first half did in terms of getting you guys going?

JADEN McDANIELS: It's a shot he worked on. He worked on his step-back-three, and he worked with people contesting him. It's regular for me but just you got to -- he just took a good shot, I guess.

Q. As a grinder, does it give you a lot of satisfaction these last couple playoff series that you're pretty much grinding the other team down, and you can see how their energy disappears in the second half?

JADEN McDANIELS: Yeah, I'd say that's kind of the goal throughout the whole series is making their main guys tired and just being relentless, picking up full court. Like knowing that people don't want to face that the whole, how many games we go. Just continuing to do that, and being physical while we're playing.

Q. To be able to grab a dozen rebounds in one first half and only one in the other half, does that muck up your defensive assignments? Do you have to pay more attention?

JADEN McDANIELS: Not really. It's me going to the rim. Some of them was lucky bounces and just came right to me. Most of the time, it's just me going back when I'm contesting and just getting back into the paint.

Q. How impressive was Randle tonight? He set the tone for you offensively; what have you seen from him, especially the adjustments from game-to-game?

JADEN McDANIELS: His aggression, that's what we need. He came out hot. The whole time he was scoring, I'm talking to him the whole time, like I'm going to keep going back to you. So, I mean, I like to see it, and just the work you put is just coming out.

Q. Before you came here, you said you like playing in front of the road crowd. Has this been the environment you expected?

JADEN McDANIELS: Yeah, it's more than what I expected, really. Playing here in the regular season, they always have a good fan base but now talking to you and chirping at you and stuff like that. It's cool. Someone called me, like, "McDonald's" down the court. Just goofy stuff but it's all fun and games.

Q. The fourth quarter, was it relaxation in seemed like you had them dead to rights, and then didn't have that sharp after of a quarter?

JADEN McDANIELS: I felt like we started playing down the competition, when they said they were going out. I mean, you can't do that. They almost came back. If there was more time they probably could have put their starters back in and made a run. So just finishing the game out like ow we start.

Q. Can you hear something in the crowd when Ant gets going, like in the road crowd and how they react to him hitting a couple threes?

JADEN McDANIELS: Sometimes, I be seeing people, it's hard not to cheer when you see Ant doing stuff like that. They try to trash-talk him but they still fans. They still be cheering for him sometimes.

Q. Being able to wear on an opponent over the course of multiple games. Last game, Jimmy Butler took 27 shots and was really aggressive. Tonight took less shots, especially in that first half. Did you sense anything from him, as someone who has to guard him quite a bit, what was the game plan coming in to try and limit him?

JADEN McDANIELS: Just really slow him down. I feel like this game he wasn't as aggressive but I feel like during the game we did our coverages the right way. If there was someone showing or switching, I feel like last game, we got a little sloppy, and that's he was able to get to the paint and break us down.

I feel like this game, our coverages were switching, showing. It was all sharp this game.

Q. Going back home 3-1. What do you need to see from the crowd back home and what you expect?

JADEN McDANIELS: A lot of energy. I know they are ready for the series to be over. I feel like it's going to be too loud for me to talk to my teammates in there but just have a bunch of energy.