By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Back-and-forth down the stretch, the Minnesota Timberwolves prevailed, 116-113, over the Los Angeles Lakers.
From a 14-0 start to the second half of the NBA Sundays contest and peaking at a 12-point lead in Target Center, the visitors settled into a 3-1 deficit in the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google.
Following ten lead changes, a winner for Game 4 of a best-of-seven series was decided with Austin Reaves missing a game-tying effort from beyond the arc at the buzzer. Leading into the last play, an inbound turnover by LeBron James and an ensuing foul on Anthony Edwards upon video review spelled disaster for the team coached by JJ Redick.
Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic finished with 38 points behind 13/28 field goals, but was dealing with apparent fatigue down the stretch, presumably connected to a recent illness. Lasting nearly 46 minutes, including the entire second half, he added two assists, one rebound, one steal, and one block.
Ukrainian teammate Alex Len did not play. German Maxi Kleber (right foot surgery) remained sidelined.
On the winning end, besides Edwards piling up 43 points, French Rudy Gobert chipped in five points, ten rebounds, and one steal over 26 minutes. Bosnian Luka Garza stayed on the bench.
2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google
Conference Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
East
Cleveland Cavaliers – Miami Heat 3-0 (121-100, 121-112, 124-87)
Boston Celtics – Orlando Magic 2-1 (103-86, 109-100, 93-95)
New York Knicks – Detroit Pistons 3-1 (123-112, 94-100, 118-116, 94-93)
Indiana Pacers – Milwaukee Bucks 2-1 (117-98, 123-115, 101-117)
West
Oklahoma City Thunder – Memphis Grizzlies 4-0 (131-80, 118-99, 114-108, 117-115)
Houston Rockets – Golden State Warriors 1-2 (85-95, 109-94, 93-104)
Los Angeles Lakers – Minnesota Timberwolves 1-3 (95-117, 94-85, 104-116, 113-116)
Denver Nuggets – Los Angeles Clippers 2-2 (112-110, 102-105, 83-117, 101-99)