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Rudy Gobert scored a playoff career high with 27 points and 24 rebounds, Julius Randle added 23 points, and the Minnesota Timberwolves advanced in the NBA playoffs, 103-96 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the first round series on Wednesday night.
Anthony Edwards had 15 points and 11 rebounds over the sixth seeded wolves, and in a third straight victory, eliminating LeBron James and Lukadon Sic from their first postseason.
After winning the playoff round in the back-to-back season for the first time in franchise history, Minnesota faces the winners of the Golden State and Houston series. The Rockets avoided elimination on Wednesday, with Game 6 on Friday, with the Warriors leading 3-2.
Donsic had 28 points and nine assists, while James added 22 points to the Lakers. The Lakers lost in their second straight postseason despite reuniting their seasonal roster in Donsic’s seismic trade.
Louis Hachimura scored 23 points for the Lakers. The Lakers have made their first advance from the opening round in five seasons since the 2020 championship in Florida’s bubble.
With Goatbert running amok with paint while the Lakers were intentionally playing without center, Minnesota won Game 5, including 17 consecutive misses in the fifth quarter and Mike Conley’s Dagger 3 playing 1:22 despite Goatbert earning 7 at 47 on a three-point attempt.
After splitting the first two games in Los Angeles, the Wolves seized control of the series in consecutive narrow home victories, thanks to excellent slow game executions.
Gobert then stepped up when the Lakers rolled out a small game 5 ball lineup. The French centre scored more points than combined the first four games of the series.
Minnesota nursed a narrow lead on the stretch, and the Lakers missed five consecutive shots in the three and a half hours between the points.
After playing the entire second half of Game 4 with five players, the Lakers changed the starting lineup for Game 5, maintaining tenacious Wingdrian Finney Smith in place of center Jackson Hayes.
Lakers manager JJ Redick defended his decision to avoid substitution this week, and even responded testimonially when reporters asked him about his decision process before Game 5.
Minnesota took a 14-point lead in the first quarter, but the Lakers revolved before going to the locker room a minute before halftime after Don Sic landed awkwardly in his knee due to a fierce foul by Don Teddy Vincento. Donsic returned to the court before the third quarter began, wearing a big hip brace that he had dumped to continue playing.
The wolf’s awful shooting kept it up, and the Lakers took their first lead in the third second half when Don Sic led the rally.
James stepped onto the Lakers bench in the fourth quarter after a hard descending at his stale ankles, but later returned some possessions.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
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