Lakers bow out in a whimper against Wolves

The Lakers didn’t put up much of a fight against the Wolves in Game 5 on Wednesday and now their season is shockingly over.

LOS ANGELES - It was all good just a week ago.

While the Lakers had just split a pair of games to open the NBA playoffs against the Wolves, they felt confident going to Minnesota, knowing just one victory would give them back home-court advantage.

They never won again.

The Lakers dropped two heartbreakers in the Target Center and returned to Los Angeles for a must-win Game 5 at home.

With their backs against the wall, the Lakers didn’t come out with the kind of responses needed to extend their season.

Minnesota came out blazing with 11 of the first 16 points. They dominated the first half, withstood a third quarter rally and then put the Lakers away in crunch time one last time, earning a 103-96 victory, ending the Lakers’ season.

“I think there’s always a mix of disappointment and gratitude,” Redick said, “but certainly disappointed and not something that I’ve ever envisioned with this team, having to go in and talk to them after losing in the first round. But give Minnesota a lot of credit, they’re a really good basketball team.”

This game was emblematic of everything the Lakers lack. With Jaxson Hayes benched, they went with a small-ball lineup and that unit was manhandled by the Wolves’ bigs, Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert.

Gobert transformed into prime Wilt Chamberlain, scoring 27 points and grabbing 24 rebounds, both career postseason highs for the Frenchman. Randle was equally as stellar, scoring 23 points to cap a series where the Lakers lacked answers for slowing him down.

Meanwhile, Austin Reaves was ineffective in this game and this series and the Lakers’ bench managed just five points. Time and time again, Minnesota presented problems that LA had no solutions for.

Despite Minnesota being in the driver’s seat, the Lakers had a hand on the wheel midway through the final frame. But as was the case all series long, they struggled to score in the fourth quarter and Wednesday was no exception.

With their season on the line and LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Reaves all on the floor, the Lakers managed just 16 points. And that Big 3 that looked so formidable at times this season managed to go 4-12 with the season on the line.

The Wolves took advantage, and from the unlikeliest source in Gobert. He continuously rammed the ball down the Lakers' throat like a Turkey getting stuffed for Thanksgiving dinner.

With the season in danger of crumbling around him, Redick made some peculiar decisions. Maxi Kleber, who was active for the first time as a Laker after recovering from a fractured foot, actually made his season debut, not only playing in the first half but seeing time late in the fourth quarter.

Getting better late-game execution from this team was a puzzle Redick never solved in this series and now they’ll have an entire summer to figure it out.

The reality of what played out in the first round must now set in. The Lakers’ season ended not just without a title, but not even with a compelling game or a spirited final effort.

Instead, it was death by Anthony Edwards and he relished in victory, shouting in the hallways postgame while his teammates hollered as the Wolves walked off the floor of Crypto.com Arena victorious.

In the end, the Lakers weren’t good enough to beat the Wolves. The way the series played out should serve as a shock to the system and will lead to changes to the roster as they mold a team around Luka.

But on Wednesday, no matter the roster imperfections, there wasn’t enough fight from the Lakers to close the talent gap and walk away with a win.

It’ll be a reality the Lakers will have to sit with during a long summer, a fittingly surprising ending to one of the most unpredictable seasons in Lakers history.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.