The Minnesota Timberwolves sent the Los Angeles Lakers packing on Wednesday night with a 103-96 victory in Game 5, clinching the series 4-1 behind a dominant effort from Rudy Gobert and a statement from Anthony Edwards.
Gobert posted a playoff career-high 27 points and grabbed 24 rebounds while shooting 12-for-15 from the field, punishing the Lakers for their small-ball lineup.
Following the win, Edwards called the outcome personal, telling reporters, “We beat the best player in the world, like the best player ever,” in reference to LeBron James.
Minnesota overcame a dismal 7-for-47 shooting night from deep and a 17-miss stretch from beyond the arc, instead relying on rebounding and physicality in the paint.
The Timberwolves outrebounded Los Angeles 54-37 and held them to just 16 points in the fourth quarter, outscoring the home team by six in the final 12 minutes.
Edwards finished with 15 points, 11 boards, and eight assists despite missing all 11 of his three-point attempts, but emphasized the team-first mentality in his postgame comments.
Veteran forward Julius Randle added 23 points and played a key role late, taking over offensively while Edwards focused on playmaking.
Gobert’s dominance was central to Minnesota’s strategy, especially with the Lakers opting not to play a true center for long stretches.
“Rudy was a dragon tonight,” Edwards said. “Not from Arctic. He was a dragon from Game of Thrones.”
Mike Conley hit a crucial three-pointer with 1:22 remaining, helping seal the win after a dry shooting spell that lasted nearly two full quarters.
Despite acquiring Luka Doncic midseason, the Lakers failed to advance past the first round for the second straight year, with Doncic posting 28 points and nine assists in the loss.
James contributed 22 points and seven rebounds, while Rui Hachimura scored 23, but Los Angeles committed 15 turnovers and struggled to generate stops down the stretch.
Minnesota’s defense held the Lakers to 42.3 percent shooting and capitalized on 18 offensive rebounds to create second-chance opportunities.
The Timberwolves’ bench made key contributions, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Donte DiVincenzo combining for 19 points and five assists.
Naz Reid, who had a quiet night scoring-wise, highlighted Gobert’s impact postgame, saying, “He was incredible tonight… He played phenomenal.”
With the victory, Minnesota advances to the second round for the second straight year and awaits the winner of the Warriors-Rockets series.
The Timberwolves trailed 2-1 earlier in the series before rattling off three straight wins, including two at Crypto.com Arena.
As speculation mounts about the Lakers’ future, Minnesota looks ahead, powered by a deep roster, improved chemistry, and rising playoff confidence.
