The Los Angeles Lakers face elimination on Wednesday night, and Austin Reaves made it clear the urgency is not lost on the team.
Speaking Tuesday ahead of Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Reaves called the upcoming contest “a must-win,” adding that the Lakers have no choice but to approach it like a Game 7.
The Lakers trail 3–1 in the first-round series after falling 116-113 in Game 4 despite holding a double-digit lead late in the third quarter.
Minnesota’s fourth-quarter dominance has been a theme all series, outscoring Los Angeles 105-69 in the final period across the first four games.
Reaves pointed to execution late in games as a primary issue, emphasizing that the Lakers have struggled to close quarters with momentum.
He acknowledged that Los Angeles had chances to pull away early in Game 4 but failed to capitalize, allowing the Timberwolves to claw back and take control.
“It comes down to just executing,” Reaves said. “You win and lose on the margins.”
His final shot in Game 4, a corner three at the buzzer, rimmed out, sealing the win for Minnesota and putting the Lakers’ season on the brink.
Asked how the team plans to channel the pressure into performance, Reaves said the Lakers must play with maximum effort and treat every possession as crucial.
“Almost every possession’s got to feel like that,” Reaves said. “You got to treat every possession as an individual thing you got to go attack.”
The Timberwolves’ decision to go small in the second half of Game 4 altered the pace and spacing, creating issues for Los Angeles on both ends.
Reaves acknowledged that Minnesota’s versatility gave them a different look, especially with five shooters on the floor when Rudy Gobert was off.
Despite the setback, the Lakers remain confident in their offensive talent, with Reaves expressing optimism about creating easier shots through better decision-making.
“We have enough talent… We have guys that can drive closeouts, shoot the ball, and obviously we got Bron that can make any play in basketball,” Reaves said.
LeBron James and Luka Doncic combined for 65 points in Game 4, but both were quiet in the final stretch, contributing to another late-game collapse.
Los Angeles now returns home for Game 5, needing a win to extend its season and force the series back to Minnesota.
The Timberwolves, led by Anthony Edwards’ 43-point performance and Jaden McDaniels’ late-game heroics, are one victory away from reaching the second round.
