Minnesota Timberwolves Oust Lakers; Gobert Finally Gets Back at Dončić
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 01 May 2025
The Minnesota Timberwolves notched the first huge upset in the Western Conference playoffs by eliminating the third-seed Los Angeles Lakers in their first-round series four games to one with a 103-96 victory at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Guard Mike Conley ended the Timberwolves' 18 straight misses from beyond the three-point line by sinking a triple from the right quarter court that enabled Minnesota to break away from a nip-and-tuck affair in the final minute of the game, making the score 101-96.
But the heroes of the win were two individuals who were previously considered liabilities by their teams: Center Rudy Gobert and Forward Julius Randle, who came up big in this game. Gobert had a team-high 27 points and 24 rebounds, and Randle added 23 points, including the final two free throws that iced the win, 103-96, for Minnesota.
Gobert was singularly picked on for his poor defense against Luka Dončić, resulting in Minnesota's 4-1 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in last season's Western Conference Finals. Randle, on the other hand, rode the bench healing from injuries as he watched the New York Knicks get eliminated against eventual champion Boston Celtics.
It was as if their long wait to vindicate themselves came in this crucial fifth game, where a visiting team usually finds difficulty in wrapping up a series on the home team's floor.
And the Timberwolves found it timely, as main scorer Anthony Edwards couldn't seem to get going with his usual high-scoring game, though he made up for it by issuing a team-high 8 assists.
As was expected, the Lakers proved too tough to crack, as their starters LeBron James, Dončić, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, and Dorian Finney-Smith came out fighting, fiercely determined to extend the series.
Dončić, in particular, was deadly with his three-point shot and herky-jerky moves in the paint, reminiscent of his toying with Gobert in last season's Western Finals.
James and Hachimura proved pillars of strength on both ends as JJ Redick again opted for a no-center squad, even as Reaves continued to spew fire from the perimeter, forcing Minnesota to play honest defense.
But Gobert would not play to stereotype this time. He would attack and pound the glass on both ends of the court in his most offensive-minded game of the series, mostly dunking and tipping in the ball. He would also provide rim protection from time to time, as evidenced by his two blocks. The seven-foot Frenchman likewise played an almost perfect game, with not a single turnover to his name.
As if animated by Gobert, Randle, who is perhaps playing in his first playoffs in about two years, also played aggressively, not settling for jump shots but attacking as if he were the first option.
Edwards was also instrumental in the ousting of the Lakers as he helped Gobert in clearing the boards, finishing with 11 rebounds to go with his "silent" 15 points. He also fed his teammates for open shots.
Dončić, despite leaving the court briefly after a bad fall off Donte DiVincenzo, led all scorers with 28 points. Hachimura and James scored 23 points and 22 points, respectively, for the losing team. The three combined for 18 rebounds.
The Timberwolves now await the winner of the series between the #2 Houston Rockets and the #7 Golden State Warriors, which is now 3-2 in favor of the Warriors following Houston's 131-116 win earlier today. Game six will be held in San Francisco, California.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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