Timberwolves Push Lakers to Brink After Game 4 Win

The Minnesota Timberwolves took a commanding 3-1 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers after an exciting 116-113 win on Sunday.

Minnesota star Anthony Edwards led all scorers with 43 points. Edwards added 9 rebounds and 6 assists while committing just one turnover. Julius Randle helped keep the team afloat early, scoring 21 first-half points. Naz Reid went 3-for-4 in the fourth quarter, including a pair of clutch threes.

On Los Angeles’ side, Luka Doncic and LeBron James combined for 43 first-half points. Austin Reaves was held scoreless in the first half while dealing with foul trouble, but poured in 17 points over the final two quarters. Rui Hachimura had his best game of the series scoring 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting. It was LA’s best offensive performance of the series, but they came up short for the third time this series.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with the top two scorers on both teams leading the way. The Lakers seemed to pulling away in the third. LA outscored Minnesota 36-23 in the third quarter, making seven threes and shooting 59-percent from the field. Edwards quickly responded when the fourth quarter began, scoring 11 points in rapid succession to cut into the Lakers lead.

Every time it seemed like the Lakers were going to pad their lead, the Wolves had a response. They scratched and clawed for rebounds, and aggressively attacked an LA defense that offered minimal rim protection. The Wolves were rewarded with 33 free throws — and outshot the Lakers from the free-throw line for the third-straight contest.

In the final four minutes, there were four lead changes. The Lakers went up two points after a Dorian Finney-Smith three. The Wolves missed on the ensuing possession, giving the Lakers a chance to take a two-possession lead with less than a minute remaining. James — who was excellent on both sides of the ball for most of the game — could not convert on an attempt from well beyond the line. Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels made a layup on the other end, and drew a foul.

With a one-point lead, the Lakers were forced to call a timeout in the backcourt after Doncic visibly tripped on McDainels’ foot. With the threat of drawing an eight-second violation, James was forced to throw the ball into the frontcourt and the pass was tipped. James then fouled Edwards — it was initially called out of bounds on Edwards, but reversed after a replay review — who made both free throws.

On LA’s last possession, Reaves got a clean look to send the game into overtime, but missed.

James went 0-for-2 in the fourth quarter with zero points. Doncic and Reaves combined to go 3-for-13 in the final frame. Edwards was 4-for-7 (3-of-4 from three) with 16 points.

The fourth quarter has told the tale all series long. The Wolves have outscored the Lakers in each fourth quarter this series for a total of 105-69. It’s a stunning development for a team led by James and Doncic. When the game is close, it’s been Edwards and the Wolves who have executed down the stretch.

It can be said that the Lakers ran out of gas toward the end. In a move that will be highly criticized, Lakers HC JJ Redick did not use a single substitution during the second half. James, Doncic, Reaves, Hachimura, and Finney-Smith played all 24 minutes of the second half. It clearly had an impact on the offense late in the game.

Now, the Lakers are facing a near-impossible task down 3-1. And, Redick has lost complete faith in LA’s depth. The Lakers are tired and getting consistently beat up by the Wolves’ physicality. Even if they can pull of a win at home on Wednesday, it’s difficult to imagine a 5-man team rallying on Friday and Sunday to win three in a row. Little mistakes have doomed this Lakers squad, and they are on the brink of elimination against a Wolves team that refuses to back down.