Camille Naredo

Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Harry How, Getty Images/AFP

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 30: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.   Harry How/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Harry How / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Article (news)

Minnesota Timberwolves v Los Angeles Lakers - Game Five

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1746081835319AFP__20250501__2212832934__v2__HighRes__MinnesotaTimberwolvesVLosAngelesLakersGameFi.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Harry How, Getty Images/AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. <em style="text-align:left">Harry How, Getty Images/AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>LOS ANGELES (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) --The Minnesota Timberwolves sent LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers tumbling out of the NBA playoffs at the first hurdle on Wednesday, producing a clinical 103-96 win to complete a 4-1 series victory.</p><p>Minnesota&#x27;s French center Rudy Gobert delivered a dominant display at both ends of the court, finishing with 27 points and 24 rebounds as the Lakers exited the postseason in the first round for the second straight year.</p><p>The Wolves advance to a Western Conference semi-final showdown against the winner of Golden State&#x27;s series against the Houston Rockets.</p><p>The Lakers meanwhile were left to reflect on another disappointingly short postseason campaign after a regular season that had built impressive momentum after the stunning trade for Luka Doncic in February.</p><p>The Lakers&#x27; failure to acquire an authentic defensive big after Anthony Davis&#x27;s departure to Dallas came back to haunt them on Wednesday as Gobert dominated around the rim.</p><p>The Lakers -- who had surged to third seed following Doncic&#x27;s arrival -- were also found wanting offensively, with James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves making just five three-pointers between them.</p><p>&quot;It feels great,&quot; Gobert told TNT television after the win. &quot;We had a season with ups and downs so to come here and play the way we did means a lot.</p><p>&quot;We just have a bunch of guys that want to win. And a lot of guys who have been through adversity throughout their career and their life and we love each other...all the things we went through throughout the season prepared us for this moment.&quot;</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZbJpMH_Gn18?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Gobert&#x27;s contribution was backed by 23 points from Julius Randle while Anthony Edwards added 15 points with 11 rebounds and eight assists.</p><p>Doncic led the Lakers scoring with 28 points while Rui Hachimura chipped in with 23 points and James 22.</p><p>Lakers coach JJ Redick blamed &quot;too many turnovers, too many offensive rebounds&quot; for his team&#x27;s defeat.</p><p>&quot;We put ourselves in a position to be in the game three times in the fourth quarter and just came up short every time,&quot; Redick said.</p><p>The 40-year-old James meanwhile refused to speculate on how much longer he expects to play in the NBA after an abrupt end to his 22nd season in the league.</p><p>&quot;I don&#x27;t have an answer to that,&quot; James said. &quot;I&#x27;ll sit down with my wife, family and support group ... have a conversation with myself on how long I want to continue to play. We&#x27;ll see.&quot;</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div></div>

<p>NBA superstar LeBron James's bid for a fifth title in his 22nd season ended Wednesday as his Los Angeles Lakers fell 103-96 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in game five of their Western Conference playoff series.</p>

NBA superstar LeBron James's bid for a fifth title in his 22nd season ended Wednesday as his Los Angeles Lakers fell 103-96 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in game five of their Western Conference playoff series.

NBA: Lakers dumped out of playoffs by Wolves

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NBA: Lakers dumped out of playoffs by Wolves

Agence France-Presse

Published May 01, 2025 01:25 PM PHT

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Updated May 01, 2025 02:45 PM PHT

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