L.A. Lakers suffer elimination in playoffs for another year as they lose to the Minnesota Timberwolves
LA Lakers Bite the Dust in First Round of NBA Playoffs for Second Straight Year
The Los Angeles Lakers' playoff woes continue, as they were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in a nail-biting Game 5 on Wednesday night (Thursday, May 1, 2025, PH time). Rudy Gobert's commanding performance of 27 points and a staggering 24 rebounds powered the Timberwolves to a 103-96 victory. Julius Randle contributed 23 points to the Minnesota victory.
Luka Doncic was the Lakers' high scorer, netting 28 points with nine assists, while LeBron James scored 22 points. Despite their best efforts, the Lakers could not overcome Gobert's dominance in the paint.
Interestingly, Doncic was acquired by the Lakers in a midseason trade, yet they have advanced past the first round only once in the five seasons since their 2020 championship. Rui Hachimura scored 23 points for the Lakers.
The Timberwolves' strong inside game, spearheaded by Gobert, managed to overshadow their mediocre three-point shooting performance (7 for 47). The Lakers' tactic of playing without a center proved to be their undoing against Gobert's formidable performance.
With this victory, the sixth-seeded Timberwolves move forward to face the winner of the Houston-Golden State series.
Rockets Nip Warriors' Lead
The Houston Rockets managed to cut the Golden State Warriors' lead to 3-2 in their first-round playoff series, following a hard-fought 131-116 Game 5 victory in Houston.
Fred VanVleet scored 26 points, Amen Thompson contributed 25 points, and Dillon Brooks added 24 points, as the Rockets' attack proved balanced. The game featured a late-game scuffle that resulted in Pat Spencer's ejection for headbutting Alperen Sengun. After the incident, the Rockets regained control, securing a 7-2 run to finish the game.
With Game 6 set to take place in San Francisco on Friday, the Warriors find themselves in a must-win situation.
[1] [https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401493126][2] [https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/timberwolves-lakers-game-5-takeaways-rudy-gobert-game-ball/2wr121hljzgu91d46m7jaghoho][3] [https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/timberwolves-eliminate-lakers-in-five-games-advance-to-conference-semifinals-against-rockets-or-warriors/]
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The Los Angeles Lakers faced a disappointing elimination yet again in the NBA Playoffs, with the Minnesota Timberwolves securing victory in a tight Game 5. Rui Hachimura scored 23 points for the Lakers, but they struggled against Rudy Gobert's dominance in the paint. In contrast, the Houston Rockets narrowed the gap in their series against the Golden State Warriors, thanks to a balanced attack from players like Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, and Dillon Brooks. As the series stands at 3-2, the Warriors now face a crucial Game 6 to avoid elimination.
