LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES — Rudy Gobert delivered a playoff career-high performance with 27 points and 24 rebounds, while Julius Randle contributed 23 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves advanced in the NBA playoffs, securing a 103-96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of their first-round series on Wednesday night.
Anthony Edwards added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the sixth-seeded Timberwolves, who completed a three-game winning streak to eliminate the highly touted pairing of LeBron James and Luka Doncic in their first postseason together.
Having now won a playoff round in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history, Minnesota will next face the winner of the series between Houston and Golden State. The Rockets avoided elimination on Wednesday, setting up a Game 6 on Friday with the Warriors holding a 3-2 lead.
Doncic led the Lakers with 28 points and nine assists, while James chipped in with 22 points. However, their efforts were not enough as the Lakers suffered a first-round exit for the second consecutive postseason, despite their significant midseason roster overhaul that brought in Doncic.
Rui Hachimura scored 23 points for the Lakers, who have only advanced beyond the opening round once in the five seasons since their 2020 championship in the Orlando bubble. With Gobert proving unstoppable in the paint while the Lakers opted for a center-less lineup, Minnesota managed to win Game 5 despite a dismal 7-for-47 shooting performance from beyond the arc, including a stretch of 17 consecutive missed three-pointers between the middle of the second quarter and Mike Conley’s crucial late three-pointer with 1:22 remaining.
After splitting the initial two games in Los Angeles, the Timberwolves seized control of the series with back-to-back close victories at home, demonstrating superior execution in the crucial late-game moments.
Gobert elevated his game significantly in Game 5, particularly exploiting the Lakers’ small-ball approach. The French center’s scoring output in this single game surpassed his combined total from the first four games of the series.
Minnesota maintained a slender lead in the final stages of the game, capitalizing on a Lakers drought that saw them miss five consecutive shot attempts over a span of three and a half minutes.
Following their decision to play the entire second half of Game 4 with just five players, the Lakers adjusted their starting lineup for Game 5, retaining the defensive-minded wing Dorian Finney-Smith in place of center Jaxson Hayes.
Lakers coach JJ Redick defended his limited substitution strategy throughout the week, even displaying frustration when questioned by a reporter about his decision-making process prior to Game 5.
Minnesota surged to an early 14-point advantage in the first quarter, but the Lakers mounted a comeback before Doncic briefly left the game with one minute remaining in the first half. He landed awkwardly on his knees after absorbing a hard foul from Donte DiVincenzo.
However, Doncic returned to the court just before the start of the third quarter, initially wearing a large lower back brace which he later discarded to continue playing.
The Timberwolves’ poor shooting kept the game competitive, allowing the Lakers to take their first lead late in the third quarter, spearheaded by a Doncic-led rally.
James appeared to be in discomfort in the fourth quarter, limping to the Lakers’ bench after a hard fall on his troublesome ankle, but he returned to the game a few possessions later.
