Anthony Edwards Leads Timberwolves to Thrilling Comeback Against Lakers
MINNEAPOLIS — In a game that will be remembered for its intensity and strategic gambles, the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off a stunning comeback against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of their first-round Western Conference series. The Timberwolves, led by the electrifying Anthony Edwards, erased a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to secure a 116-113 victory, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Edwards was the star of the night, scoring 16 of his game-high 43 points in the final quarter. His relentless drive and energy were pivotal as Minnesota outscored the Lakers 32-19 in the fourth. Reflecting on the game, Edwards said, “I felt like they were gassed going down the stretch. So just trying to keep my foot on the pedal and keep going.”
The Lakers, despite a strong performance from LeBron James, who tallied 27 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks, struggled in the final minutes. They shot just 5-for-18 in the fourth quarter, including 3-for-9 in the last five minutes. However, James dismissed the notion that fatigue was a factor, stating, “We got some really good looks. Luka [Doncic] missed a point-blank layup to put us up seven. I missed a point-blank layup to put us up four. We had a couple opportunities. I don’t think fatigue had anything to do with that. Just missing some point-blank shots, you know? We were getting into what we wanted to get into. We just weren’t able to convert.”
In a bold move, Lakers coach JJ Redick decided to keep the same five players on the court for the entire second half. This decision was unprecedented, as no team since at least 1998 had used only five players in one half of a playoff game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Redick explained, “I asked them at the beginning of the fourth quarter [how they were doing] and told them we had two extra timeouts. ‘If you need a sub, let us know.’ Those guys gave a lot.”
The lineup of Dorian Finney-Smith, James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura started the third quarter with a 14-0 run, outscoring the Timberwolves 36-23 in the period. Finney-Smith, who contributed 6 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in 41 minutes, supported the decision, saying, “It’s the playoffs. I don’t think nobody wanted to come out the game anyway.”
Doncic, who had been dealing with a stomach ailment in Game 3, led the Lakers with 38 points in Game 4 but managed only seven in the fourth quarter. Both Doncic and James played 46 minutes, and Doncic echoed James’ sentiments about fatigue, stating, “Fatigue shouldn’t play any role in this. I played a lot of minutes, but that shouldn’t play a role. I think they just executed better on the offensive end during the last minutes.”
- Key Moments:
- Doncic called a timeout with 33 seconds left after falling in the backcourt, claiming he was tripped by Jaden McDaniels.
- James turned the ball over on a sideline inbounds pass to Doncic with 17 seconds on the shot clock.
- Officials overturned an out-of-bounds call on Edwards, changing it to a foul on James after a challenge by Wolves coach Chris Finch.
Edwards capitalized on the overturned call, making two free throws to extend the Timberwolves’ lead to three. Reaves had a chance to tie the game with a corner 3-pointer at the buzzer, but it missed, sealing the Lakers’ fate.
Looking ahead to Game 5, the Lakers are determined to fight back. “We’re going to get one,” Hachimura confidently stated. The Lakers will host the Timberwolves on Wednesday, hoping to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Originally Written by: Dave McMenamin
