The Minnesota Timberwolves ended the Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff hopes with a commanding 103-96 win early Thursday, sealing a 4-1 series triumph and booking their place in the Western Conference semi-finals.
Rudy Gobert was at the heart of it, overpowering the Lakers with a towering 27-point, 24-rebound performance.
The French big man controlled the paint all night, exposing LA’s failure to replace Anthony Davis with a defensive anchor after his February trade to Dallas.
“It feels great,” Gobert told TNT. “All the things we went through throughout the season prepared us for this moment.”
Backed by 23 points from Julius Randle and a near triple-double from Anthony Edwards, Minnesota’s effort proved too much for a Lakers team that faltered offensively.
Luka Doncic led LA with 28 points but connected on just two triples, while LeBron James and Austin Reaves combined for only three more from deep.
Despite climbing to the third seed after Doncic’s high-profile arrival, the Lakers once again bowed out in the opening round, matching last season’s disappointment.
Minnesota now awaits the winner of the Golden State–Houston series, which saw the Rockets stay alive with a 131-116 win to make it 3-2.
