Timberwolves coach Chris Finch offers rare public criticism of Julius Randle in latest loss

Finch calls out Randle's rebounding after Minnesota's defeat against Portland

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:26pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Minnesota Timberwolves suffered a frustrating 108-104 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, with coach Chris Finch publicly criticizing star player Julius Randle's rebounding performance. Randle, who is averaging a career-low 6.8 rebounds per game, grabbed only five rebounds, with just three on the defensive end. Finch expressed his disappointment, saying "Julius has three defensive rebounds. That's not good enough. It's just not good enough." The loss was a crucial one for the Timberwolves, who are in a tight race for playoff positioning in the Western Conference.

Why it matters

The Timberwolves' struggles on the defensive glass have been a recurring issue this season, and Finch's public criticism of Randle's rebounding is a rare move for the coach, who typically supports his players in public. This loss against a sub-.500 team could prove costly for the Timberwolves, who are fighting for a top-four seed in the West and home-court advantage in the playoffs.

The details

The Timberwolves led 104-103 with 35 seconds remaining, but the Blazers grabbed two offensive rebounds on the next possession, leading to a game-winning 3-pointer from Jerami Grant. Overall, the Blazers had 18 offensive rebounds, leading to 22 second-chance points. Randle, who has been on an upswing lately, struggled to contribute on the glass. Finch also criticized the team's overall effort and reaction time on the defensive boards.

  • The Timberwolves lost to the Blazers on Friday, March 21, 2026.

The players

Chris Finch

The head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, known for his close relationship with player Julius Randle.

Julius Randle

A star player for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who is averaging a career-low 6.8 rebounds per game this season.

Jerami Grant

A player for the Portland Trail Blazers, who hit the game-winning 3-pointer against the Timberwolves.

Ayo Dosunmu

A player for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who had a strong game with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists.

Rudy Gobert

The starting center for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who struggled with rebounding and defensive assignments in the game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We feel like we gave the game away,”

— Julius Randle

“All's we gotta do, we're up 104-103 and all we have to do is get a rebound and we can't. There's like a lag time from the time the shot goes and we take a breath and we look up. They're flying around and we're delayed in our reactions. It's been that way for a while. It's just not good enough.”

— Chris Finch, Head Coach, Minnesota Timberwolves

“Rudy had a good chance on the rebound, but instead of playing volleyball, go grab that thing. Then maybe they foul you or something like that. We got two looks at the basket.”

— Chris Finch, Head Coach, Minnesota Timberwolves

What’s next

The Timberwolves will play at the Boston Celtics on Sunday, March 23, 2026, in a crucial game as they fight for playoff positioning in the Western Conference.

The takeaway

The Timberwolves' struggles on the defensive glass have been a recurring issue this season, and Finch's rare public criticism of star player Julius Randle's rebounding performance highlights the team's desperation to address this problem. With a tough schedule ahead, the Timberwolves need to shore up their defensive rebounding if they want to secure a favorable playoff seed in the competitive Western Conference.