Rudy Gobert dominates small-ball
Lakers and the Timberwolves advance with a 103-96 win in Game 5
[May 01, 2025]
By GREG BEACHAM
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves spent Game 5 in a
dismal shooting funk, providing the Los Angeles Lakers with ample
opportunity to stave off playoff elimination.
While his teammates struggled, Rudy Gobert stepped up against the
small-ball Lakers — and on their big man's shoulders, the Wolves are
going all the way back to the second round.
Gobert had playoff career highs with 27 points and 24 rebounds,
Julius Randle added 23 points and Minnesota advanced in the NBA
playoffs with a clinching 103-96 victory in their first-round series
Wednesday night.
Gobert stepped up when the Lakers deployed a centerless lineup,
scoring more points than he managed in the series’ first four games
combined. The Lakers also struggled defensively against Gobert, who
dominated stretches on both ends.
“Feels great, but not vindication,” Gobert said. “It’s not about
beating a specific person. It’s about a championship, and we’ve got
a little bit more work to do before that.”
With Gobert running amok in the paint, Minnesota won Game 5 despite
going 7 for 47 on 3-point attempts, including 17 consecutive misses
between the middle of the second quarter and Mike Conley’s dagger 3
with 1:22 to play.
“We didn’t shoot the ball well, but I thought we were the tougher
team mentally and physically,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said.
“That’s when it showed itself. We knew we’d been good in fourth
quarters against this team all series. We just needed to see a
couple of shots go down opportunistically. Guys did a great job
surviving the emotions of the game, which was always going to be a
tough game.”
Anthony Edwards had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the sixth-seeded
Wolves, who won three straight games to eliminate LeBron James and
Luka Doncic from their first postseason together.
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Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, center, grabs a
rebound away from Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent, left, and
forward Dorian Finney-Smith during the first half in Game 5 of an
NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, April 30, 2025,
in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
After winning a playoff round in back-to-back
seasons for the first time in franchise history, Minnesota next
faces the winner of Houston’s series with Golden State. The Rockets
avoided elimination Wednesday, and Game 6 is Friday with the
Warriors leading 3-2.
Doncic had 28 points and nine assists, while James added 22 points
for the Lakers, who lost in the first round for the second straight
postseason despite reconfiguring their roster at midseason with
their seismic trade for Doncic.
Rui Hachimura scored 23 points for the Lakers, who have advanced
from the opening round just once in five seasons since their 2020
championship in the Florida bubble.
“There’s always a mix of disappointment and gratitude,” Lakers coach
JJ Redick said. “Certainly disappointed (because this result is) not
something that I ever envisioned with this team, having to go in and
talk to them after losing in the first round, but give Minnesota a
lot of credit. They’re a really good basketball team, and I think
our guys played hard enough and did all the right things.
"We tried to make it work with what we had, and came up a little
short.”
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