The Los Angeles Lakers saw a golden opportunity slip away Sunday night, falling 116-113 to the Minnesota Timberwolves and putting themselves on the brink of elimination, down 3-1 in their first-round series. Despite a heroic 38-point effort from Luka Doncic, who fought through lingering effects of a stomach illness, and a strong performance from LeBron James, the Lakers couldn’t close the door when it mattered most.
Leading by 12 late in the third quarter, the Lakers seemed in control, but costly turnovers, defensive lapses, and missed opportunities down the stretch opened the door for Minnesota’s comeback. Jaden McDaniels delivered the crushing blows, converting a three-point play with 39.5 seconds left for the go-ahead score and then immediately stealing LeBron’s inbound pass to flip the momentum completely.
James, who finished with a solid all-around game, couldn’t rescue the Lakers late. He was whistled for a critical foul on Anthony Edwards with 10 seconds remaining, and watched as Edwards calmly knocked down two free throws to stretch the Timberwolves’ lead to three.
With their season hanging in the balance, the Lakers managed to get the ball to Austin Reaves for a last-gasp, tying three-point attempt but his shot rimmed out as the buzzer sounded, McDaniels snagging the final rebound to seal the loss.
Now facing elimination, the Lakers head back to Los Angeles for a must-win Game 5 on Wednesday. They’ll need not only a full recovery from Doncic but a much more composed, complete effort to keep their postseason hopes alive. Let’s provide a rating for every Lakers player after his Sunday afternoon performance.Â
LeBron James: A+
Stats: 27 PTS, 12 REB (3 OREB, 9 DREB), 8 AST, 3 STL, 3 BLK, 3 TO, 2 PF, 5-9 FG, 2-4 3PT, 15-18 FT, -4, 46 MIN
LeBron James delivered a masterful all-around performance, doing everything he could to put the Lakers in a position to win. Scoring 27 points and adding 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks, LeBron’s stat line reflected just how much responsibility he carried. He was aggressive getting to the line, converting 15 of 18 free throws, and his defensive plays kept the Lakers afloat. Unfortunately, a late foul and a critical turnover overshadowed an otherwise phenomenal night.
Luka Doncic: A+
Stats: 38 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 4 TO, 3 PF, 13-28 FG, 5-12 3PT, 7-7 FT, -3, 46 MIN
Battling through a stomach illness, Luka Doncic put forth a heroic effort, pouring in 38 points to keep the Lakers in command for much of the night. Though he wasn’t at his most efficient (13-for-28 shooting), Doncic’s shot-making, especially from deep, was crucial. His energy visibly faded late, but given his health issues and the workload he carried, his performance was nothing short of inspiring, even if it ultimately wasn’t enough to seal the victory.
Rui Hachimura: A
Stats: 23 PTS, 5 REB (1 OREB, 4 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 9-16 FG, 5-10 3PT, 0-0 FT, +0, 41 MIN
Rui Hachimura stepped up brilliantly as a third scoring option, tallying 23 points and hitting five triples on a highly efficient 9-for-16 shooting night. His confident shot-making, particularly from three-point range, gave the Lakers a huge boost when they needed it. Though he didn’t contribute a ton defensively or at the free-throw line, his offensive output and floor-spacing were vital parts of what had the Lakers in position to win.
Austin Reaves: B+
Stats: 17 PTS, 7 REB (1 OREB, 6 DREB), 4 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO, 5 PF, 6-14 FG, 5-12 3PT, 0-0 FT, +5, 35 MIN
Austin Reaves had a gutsy game, knocking down five three-pointers en route to 17 points while also grabbing seven rebounds and dishing four assists. He provided valuable energy on both ends, including two blocked shots, and made timely plays throughout the night. However, the game will be remembered for his missed final shot, a good look that simply didn’t fall, and it overshadowed an otherwise solid and scrappy performance.
Dorian Finney-Smith: C+
Stats: 6 PTS, 8 REB (4 OREB, 4 DREB), 6 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 3 PF, 2-7 FG, 2-6 3PT, 0-0 FT, -5, 41 MIN
Dorian Finney-Smith had a mixed outing, contributing 6 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists but struggling mightily with his shooting. His work on the glass and facilitating from the wing were positives, but he missed some open threes that could have stretched the Lakers’ lead late. Defensively, he battled hard as always, but his offensive limitations stood out in a game where every possession mattered.
Gabe Vincent: D
Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 0-2 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, -7, 13 MIN
Gabe Vincent provided almost nothing in his 13 minutes of play, failing to score or significantly impact the game on either end. Missing both of his shot attempts and collecting just one rebound, Vincent struggled to find a rhythm and looked a step slow defensively. His -7 plus-minus in limited minutes reflected his lack of positive impact, and the Lakers needed far more from him with the stakes so high.
Jaxson Hayes: N/A
Stats: 2 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 1-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +1, 4 MIN
Jaxson Hayes saw just four minutes of action and made the most of his brief time with two points, three rebounds, and an assist. Though he wasn’t on the floor long enough to truly influence the game, his energy was solid during his short stint. He gave a little burst of physicality off the bench but wasn’t a factor in the game’s outcome.
Jarred Vanderbilt: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -3, 7 MIN
Jarred Vanderbilt played just seven minutes and didn’t register much of an impact, grabbing two defensive rebounds but otherwise posting zeros across the box score. Coming back from injury, he still looked a bit tentative and wasn’t involved in any critical plays. His defensive versatility could have helped, but he didn’t have enough time to truly affect the game.
Jordan Goodwin: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 2 REB (1 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 0-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, +1, 7 MIN
Jordan Goodwin also logged a short stint, managing two rebounds and an assist in seven minutes but missing both of his shot attempts. He provided some hustle and toughness, picking up three fouls in limited time, but wasn’t able to make a meaningful dent in the game’s flow. Like Vanderbilt and Hayes, he was more of a placeholder than a difference-maker in this one.
