Lakers vs Timberwolves Game 5: The Los Angeles Lakers’ season came crashing to an end on April 30, as they lost 103-96 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. With sky-high hopes after making the midseason trade for Luka Dončić, the Lakers couldn’t get past the first round.
Dončić, who guided the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals just last season, played while suffering from a back injury and scored a team-best 28 points. But even his determination and scoring weren’t enough to overome Minnesota’s size, depth, and execution.
Gobert Dominates Inside
Rudy Gobert delivered one of the greatest playoff games of his career. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year scored 27 points, 24 rebounds. It included nine on the offensive glass, and two blocks. Gobert dominated the Lakers’ small-ball lineups throughout the evening.
“We knew we needed to get a game like this out of him at some point,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “He was great tonight.
The Lakers were out-rebounded 65-48, and Minnesota possessed a 56-40 advantage in points in the paint. The Timberwolves also doubled L.A. in second-chance points, 22-11.
Lakers’ Size Problem
Lacking a true center, the Lakers were haunted. They tried to fill the hole by trading for Charlotte’s Mark Williams after shipping Anthony Davis out to get Don
ić, but when Williams didn’t pass a physical, the trade was voided and left L.A. exposed in the paint.
Jaxon Hayes, thrust into the starting lineup, played not one minute in Game 5. Max Kleber, just coming back from an injury, logged only five minutes and appeared predictably rusty.
LeBron’s Future Uncertain
LeBron James had 22 points in Game 5, but the 40-year-old was weary by the fourth quarter. At the final buzzer, James walked directly off the court, perhaps for good.
“I don’t have an answer to that,” James said when asked about retirement. “I’ll sit down with my wife, family, and support group and have a conversation with myself.”
James played this year primarily to win time with his son, Bronny James Jr. After having accomplished that feat James might retire. He put up 26.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game in the postseason. It is evidence that he can still play at a high level.
Anthony Edwards Delivers Again
While Gobert controlled the paint, Anthony Edwards closed out games. The Lakers took a late lead in Games 3 and 4, but Edwards made clutch shots and big plays to steal both victories.
“Rudy was a dragon from Game of Thrones tonight,” Edwards said. “He was incredible.”
But Edwards was just as brilliant, going at the rim with impunity and scoring whenever Minnesota needed a basket. His heroics down the stretch secured the series in five games.
Lakers Ran Out of Gas
Trailing by 14 in Game 5 early, the Lakers came roaring back and even led late in the third quarter on a Dorian Finney-Smith three-pointer. But the comeback attempt took its toll.
With limping Donić, weary James, and no interior threat, the Lakers just could not keep up in the late stages.
Redick Promises Hope as Head Coach
Despite the disappointing finale, first-year head coach J.J. Redick promised hope. He guided the Lakers to a 50-win season which is their best since 2020, and a No. 3 seed in the competitive Western Conference.
“I’m definitely disappointed,” Redick said. “But I’m also thankful. We did try to make it work with what we had, and we came up a little short.”
Looking Ahead – Lakers vs Timberwolves Game
The offseason starts with a big question: Will LeBron come back? If not, the Lakers fully commit to the Donić era. Either way, they need to fill the center spot if they’re going to compete next year.
For the time being, the Timberwolves move on. The Lakers, once considered title favorites, are off into a long summer of uncertainty.
