"The Lakers are determined to end their fourth-quarter losing streaks."

Lakers' Season on the Line as Fourth-Quarter Woes persist

Minneapolis - Luka Doncic sported a healthier glow on Sunday, recovering from his virus-induced misery experienced during Game 3. Despite feeling better, his team's prospects looked bleak.

"Just a virus," he explained. "Still got it."

With Los Angeles teetering on the edge, the Lakers played two grueling matches in Minnesota, losing both. This leaves them needing three straight wins to keep their season alive - an improbable feat indeed.

Clearly, there are credible reasons for the team's Minneapolis woes. Doncic's illness made a Lakers victory tough, and even though the Lakers missed a clear foul call on Doncic in Game 4, preventing a potential lead-taking shot with 30 seconds remaining, the referees confirmed the foul only on Monday.

"It was just big play after big play," said LeBron James. "They made a couple more than we did."

However, the real reasons behind the Lakers' possible season-ending predicament are rooted in their dismal fourth-quarter performance.

"We had opportunities to win," James lamented about Game 4, "We just didn't close."

The Trouble with the Death Knell

He might as well have been speaking about the entire series. With eight more points scored in the first three quarters of this series, it's the last 12 minutes where the Lakers have faltered, allowing the Wolves to surge ahead by 36 points.

With Game 5 looming, the Lakers will focus on rectifying this plague that has haunted them, particularly in the final stages of games.

Throughout the series, the Lakers have made only 29.1% of their shots in the fourth quarter. Even LeBron James, with a sorry 7 for 20 performance, and Austin Reaves at 4 for 13, have struggled. Doncic, again mistakenly referenced in the context of the Lakers, had a somewhat better fourth quarter, going 5 for 17. Dorian Finney-Smith and Rui Hachimura combined for only 2 for 14 in the crucial fourth quarter.

Sunday's misses included layups and wide-open threes.

"It's definitely disappointing," Doncic admitted. "But we haven't lost nothing yet."

Still, hope remains. The Timberwolves have capitalized on late-game opportunities all season, outscoring opponents by the second-most points in the fourth quarter, trailing only the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Lakers have a chance to change their fortunes, despite the glaring issues that can potentially be bigger than two games in Minnesota. Postgame, Finney-Smith invoked James' historic title-winning comeback against the Golden State Warriors, after being down 3-1.

Yet, only 13 teams in league history have pulled off such a feat.

"We don't think about winning three," James said. "We think about just getting the next one."

And for a chance to avoid elimination, they'll have to conquer their fourth-quarter demons.

"Every time you get a chance to lace them up and play again, you're not out," said Reaves laconically. "The sun comes up tomorrow, and we still have another day to fight."

Additional Reading:

Lakers falter late in loss to Minnesota, teetering on brink of elimination
Hernández: Can the Lakers overcome their biggest vulnerability exposed during their Game 3 loss?
With Luka Doncic ailing, LeBron James' historic night can't save Lakers in Game 3 loss

Enrichment Data:

The data shows the Lakers' struggles in the fourth quarter, with a noticeable decrease in shooting percentages to 29.1%. However, it's important to point out that LeBron James has had difficulty in this period, scoring only 7 out of 20 shots, while Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic (erroneously mentioned as a Laker) had disappointing performances, with Doncic going 5 for 17. The struggle could potentially be linked to turnovers, defensive pressure, a lack of clutch performance, and matchup issues that have hampered the Lakers as they try to keep their season alive.

Despite Luka Doncic recovering from his virus, the Lakers' season hangs in the balance, as their fourth-quarter woes persist.
In California, the Lakers have been teetering on the edge during the NBA playoffs, losing two tough games in Minneapolis.
Los Angeles needs to capitalize on their opportunities and improve their fourth-quarter performance if they are to keep their season alive.
LeBron James' historic comeback against the Golden State Warriors in 2016 serves as a source of inspiration for the Lakers.
Dorian Finney-Smith and Rui Hachimura have struggled in the crucial fourth quarter, with combined scores of 2 for 14.
The Timberwolves have outscored opponents by the second-most points in the fourth quarter, and the Lakers will have to overcome their fourth-quarter demons to avoid elimination.