The Minnesota Timberwolves jumped all over the Los Angeles Lakers to start Game 5. They played ferocious defense while picking apart LA’s zone defense.
The Lakers went on a 14-3 run at the start of the second quarter to get back into the game, but the Timberwolves’ defense clamped down again. At the half, Minnesota led 59-49, but this wasn’t the worst news for LA.
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Superstar Luka Doncic fell hard at the end of the first half and seemingly hurt his back. He shot his free throws but left to the locker room.
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The Lakers looked like a different team in the third quarter. They were playing aggressively on offense and defense and took the Timberwolves by surprise.
Also, Doncic returned at the start of the quarter. As he battled through sickness in Game 3, he fought this back injury to help his team get within one after three quarters, 81-80.
In the fourth, the Lakers got another scare when LeBron James went down with an apparent knee injury. He would return and the Lakers battled hard, but on this night, the game belonged to the Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves knocked the Lakers out of the playoffs with their 103-96 victory. Minnesota achieved this victory despite Anthony Edwards shooting 5-19 overall and 0-11 from three for 15 points.
Rudy Gobert was the star of this game. He recorded a stat line of 27 points and 24 rebounds. As for the Lakers, Doncic scored 28 and LeBron added 22, but it wasn’t enough.
LA’s season is over while the Timberwolves will move on to play the winner of the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets series.
