In an electrifying Game 4 clash, Anthony Edwards propelled his Minnesota Timberwolves to a pivotal playoff win against the Los Angeles Lakers. He was electric with a scintillating 43 points, including 16 in the decisive fourth quarter. And now the Timberwolves are up 3-1 in the series. Here’s how the action exploded at the Staples Center on Sunday. Tempers flared as both teams fought hard to control the field.
The Lakers had an offensive meltdown in the fourth quarter. They shot 27. Maggett19 from the field and missed critical makes down the stretch when it mattered. Behind some valiant effort and a 46-minute performance from LeBron James, the Lakers still couldn’t outrun the last opponent game charge by the Timberwolves. James scored on just one fourth quarter play the entire game. He didn’t chalk up his off night to fatigue.
Edwards saw an opening in the Lakers’ game plan as early as second half. Yet here they were, still insisting on keeping the same five players on the court for the duration. “I just felt like they were gassed down the side,” he said after the game. His acumen became decisive as he used the weariness of the other squad to propel his unit’s victory.
In an unconventional, but certainly bold move, Timberwolves Coach Nate McMillan told Dorian Finney-Smith during halftime. In his postgame presser, he announced that Finney-Smith would be starting over Jaxson Hayes the 2nd half. Finney-Smith admitted that he and his teammates were just excited to not let down the guys keeping an eye on them. To keep everybody engaged, he stressed that keeping everybody in the game was essential. “And I know I don’t think nobody wanted to come out the game regardless,” Finney-Smith said.
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 38 points, bouncing back from a stomach ailment that sidelined him during Game 3. He had an awful fourth quarter on offense, scoring just seven points. This is an indicator that he really had a hard time finding his rhythm down the stretch of this game. That’s where the Lakers sagged under the weight of their own operation, as their offense completely fell apart when James started misfiring. He went 0-for-2, scoring zero points in the fourth quarter.
Even though he was on the court for an exhausting 46 minutes, Doncic expressed that he felt prepared to make an impact. After the game though, he said he wished he had one back, an opportunity that could have easily changed the entire trajectory of the game. “If I could take it back, maybe just have one guy break open to the backcourt,” he reflected.
Former NBA star JJ Redick pointed this out in his own surprising turn. He admitted it was “not a planned thing” for the Lakers to only play with five players the whole second half. Such a strategy would be unprecedented in playoff history. No team has worked with a rotation this small since at least 1998.
During the dramatic conclusion to the game, Edwards tattoed the win for the Timberwolves. After a lengthy video review he was awarded two key free throws, giving his team a three-point lead with just 10.7 seconds remaining on the clock. This momentous occasion showcased not only his talent but his poise and calmness in the clutch.
The cards are stacked against the Lakers as they prepare to host Minnesota for Game 5. They need a victory in this game to stay alive for a playoff spot. The stakes must be higher as they seek to regain mojo and avoid elimination.
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