In a performance that could redefine his playoff legacy, Rudy Gobert delivered a punishing 27 points and a monstrous 24 rebounds—both playoff career highs—as the Minnesota Timberwolves secured a 103-96 Game 5 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, advancing past the first round for the second consecutive season.
Minnesota, the sixth seed in the West, overcame a cold shooting night from beyond the arc and capitalized on the Lakers’ decision to go small, exploiting the paint with relentless efficiency. Gobert was simply unstoppable against the undersized Lakers lineup, scoring more points than he had in the first four games of the series combined.
Julius Randle added 23 points and Anthony Edwards contributed a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. The Timberwolves now await the winner of the Houston-Golden State series, where the Warriors currently hold a 3-2 lead.
For the Lakers, the high-profile pairing of LeBron James and Luka Doncic ended in disappointment. Doncic scored 28 points with nine assists, while James added 22. Rui Hachimura chipped in 23, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the franchise’s second straight first-round exit.
The Lakers struggled with continuity and coaching strategy throughout the series. Game 5 was no different, as head coach JJ Redick doubled down on a controversial small-ball approach, leaving Jaxson Hayes on the bench in favor of Dorian Finney-Smith and minimizing his rotation. Redick also declined to substitute during crucial stretches, drawing criticism that intensified with each missed Lakers opportunity late in the game.
Despite a dreadful 7-for-47 night from deep—including a stretch of 17 consecutive misses—Minnesota held firm. Veteran guard Mike Conley finally broke the slump with a clutch three-pointer in the final 90 seconds, pushing the Timberwolves beyond reach.
The Lakers had trimmed a 14-point first-quarter deficit and briefly took the lead late in the third quarter. However, momentum shifted back to Minnesota as the Lakers went over three and a half minutes without a point in the fourth quarter, missing five straight shots during that stretch.
Injuries added to L.A.’s woes. Doncic left just before halftime after a hard foul by Donte DiVincenzo caused him to land awkwardly. Though he returned to start the third quarter, he was visibly limited, wearing and eventually discarding a lower back brace. James also briefly exited after a fall aggravated his nagging ankle injury but returned for the closing minutes.
As the final buzzer sounded at Crypto.com Arena, it was Gobert and the Wolves who stood tall—literally and figuratively. For the first time in franchise history, Minnesota has won a playoff series in back-to-back seasons, and with Gobert playing at this level, they may not be done yet.
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