The Los Angeles Lakers’ decision to keep a five-man lineup on the court for the entire second half of Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves backfired as the Wolves staged an incredible comeback. The Lakers were leading by as many as 10 points in the fourth quarter but couldn’t capitalize on their scoring opportunities, ultimately falling short 116-113.
Lakers coach JJ Redick explained that he asked his assistant coaches if they needed extra timeouts and told them to let him know if anyone was exhausted. Redick said it wasn’t a planned strategy to keep just five players on the court for the entire second half. Despite this, Finney-Smith, James, Doncic, Reaves, and Hachimura started the third quarter on a 14-0 run, taking control of the game.
However, the Lakers’ stars, LeBron James and Luka Doncic, struggled in the fourth quarter. James was scoreless, while Doncic only managed seven points. The Lakers’ shooting woes continued as they went just 5-for-18 from the field in the fourth quarter.
The Wolves, led by Anthony Edwards, who scored 16 of his game-high 43 points in the final quarter, took advantage of the Lakers’ struggles to win the game. Edwards nearly matched James’ total for the fourth quarter and had a big impact on the game’s momentum.
The loss was attributed to missed opportunities rather than fatigue. Doncic said that he didn’t think fatigue played a role in his performance and thought the Wolves executed better during the final minutes of the game. The Lakers will look to bounce back when they host Minnesota in Game 5 on Wednesday, with Hachimura saying “We’re going to get one.”
Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44894232/edwards-zooms-gassed-lakers-wolves-take-3-1-lead