Well, that’s officially a wrap. The Los Angeles Lakers have now been bounced early in the playoffs after losing in five games against the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, despite the Wolves’ poor shooting and questionable coaching decisions, they still got the closeout dub against the Lakers, who desperately needed this win, resulting in one of the biggest upsets in this year’s NBA playoffs.
The LeBron James-Luka Doncic duo’s season has finally come to an end. The Slovenian superstar was fantastic throughout the series, and so was LBJ. In game 5, both stars played 40 minutes and contributed as much as they can. Doncic, like the great scorer and facilitator he is, finished the game with 28 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds. Meanwhile, the King at 40 years old managed to get up for 22 points, 6 assists, and 7 rebounds. Rui Hachimura did well, putting up 23 points through 39 minutes of action. However, Austin Reaves, who was expected to shine in the playoffs, was quiet in the first round. Even Reaves pointed the blame on himself, following a devastating loss in game 5.
The Lakers would have been able to force a game 6 and possibly push the series to seven games if they had capitalized on the Timberwolves’ off night, but the absence of a reliable center eventually doomed their chances.
Gobert Saves Timberwolves’ Terrible Shooting
Minnesota did everything except sink their three-point shots. Miss after miss, the Timberwolves only made 7 of their 47 (14.9%) attempts from behind the arc, which is quite remarkable in a negative way. However, their missed opportunities to score would be nullified by Rudy Gobert’s historic performance.
In games 1 through 4, Gobert was deemed unplayable and only averaged 3.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. But in game 5, the French big man was suddenly starting to hit his shots from the get-go, cooking the Lakers’ smallball lineup. In his best outing in the playoffs so far, Gobert finished with 27 points, 24 rebounds, and 2 blocks on 12-of-15 shooting (80% FG), making him the first NBA player since 1996 to record at least 25 points, 20 rebounds, with at least an 80% field goal percentage in a playoff game. Subsequently, the former Defensive Player of the Year tallied his career-high in playoff points and rebounds while eliminating two of the best players in the league.
The Wolves, with Gobert as their anchor down low, outrebounded Los Angeles by a whopping margin, 54-37, resulting to their 103-96 victory.
Gobert wasn’t alone though, as Julius Randle also helped with 23 points and 5 rebounds while Anthony Edwards laid back a bit but did the dirty work by putting up 15 points, 8 assists, and 11 rebounds.
They will face whoever wins between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets in the semifinals.
