Game 4 Recap: Timberwolves 116, Lakers 113
The Timberwolves staged a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback, outscoring the Lakers 32-19—including a decisive 19-9 run in the final five minutes—to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. This loss marked a crucial missed opportunity for the Lakers, who squandered an early 10-point lead and entered halftime down by four.
In a bold move, Lakers coach JJ Redick adjusted his starting lineup for the second half, replacing Jaxson Hayes with Dorian Finney-Smith. The new unit responded with a 14-0 run to open the third quarter, powering a 36-23 period. However, Redick’s decision to stick with the same five players for the entire second half may have backfired, as fatigue appeared to set in late.
Anthony Edwards dominated with 43 points, including 24 after halftime, overshadowing another stellar performance from LeBron James (27 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks). Luka Dončić rebounded from a stomach bug in Game 3 to drop 38 points, though his four turnovers proved costly—including a critical miscue on an inbound pass with 10.7 seconds left while trailing by one.
Despite strong contributions from Rui Hachimura (23 points, 5 rebounds) and Austin Reaves (17 second-half points after a scoreless first half), the Lakers fell short when Reaves’ potential game-tying three-pointer rimmed out at the buzzer.
Looking Ahead to Game 5: Timberwolves at Lakers (Wednesday, 10 p.m. ET, TNT)
The Lakers now face a must-win scenario after letting two winnable games slip away in Minnesota. While home-court advantage could provide a boost, the Timberwolves have already proven they can thrive in hostile environments after stealing Game 1 at Crypto.com Arena. With momentum firmly on their side, Minnesota appears poised to close out the series unless the Lakers can muster a desperate response.
Do you think the Lakers can save the day in Game 5 and avoid the embarrassment of being eliminated in the first round?
