The Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off a stunning series-clinching win against the third-seeded Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. Guard Anthony Edwards led the charge, mocking those who had predicted the Lakers would take the series in five games with his memorable phrase “Ant-Man, Superman, Lakers in five.” However, it was actually the Timberwolves who emerged victorious, winning 103-96 and advancing to the second round of the playoffs.
Edwards’ taunts were not just for show. The team had indeed been an underdog throughout the series, with odds of +4000 to win the NBA Finals, but they harnessed that motivation to fuel their comeback victory. Coach Chris Finch praised the team’s resilience, saying that their “chip on their shoulder” drove them to play better.
Despite being outshooting the Lakers from beyond the arc 7-of-47 (14.9%), the Timberwolves’ center Rudy Gobert delivered a standout performance, scoring a playoff career-high 27 points and grabbing 24 rebounds on 12-of-15 shooting. He became the first player in NBA history to achieve this feat in a series-clinching win.
Gobert’s dominance was a key factor in the Timberwolves’ victory, allowing them to overcome one of their worst shooting performances in the playoffs. Forward Julius Randle also contributed with 23 points and 5 rebounds.
The Timberwolves will face the winner of the Houston Rockets-Golden State Warriors series in the next round. Gobert expressed confidence in his team’s ability to overcome adversity, saying “I never doubted this group” given their collective resilience and mentality.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44944858/wolves-win-third-straight-eliminate-lakers-first-round