Lakers eliminated by Timberwolves 103-96 in Game 5, ending first season with Luka Dončić and LeBron James together

The Los Angeles Lakers so-close-and-yet-so-far first season with Luka Dončić has come to an end. 

Dončić, who led the Dallas Mavericks all the way to the NBA Finals last season, couldn’t help the Lakers get out of the first round in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, as the Minnesota Timberwolves dispatched of the Lakers 103-96 in Game 5 at Crypto.com arena to advance to the second round of the NBA Playoffs.

Rudy Gobert dominated the Lakers small lineups with a playoff career-high 27 points, an astounding 24 rebounds, including nine on the offensive end, and two blocks in the victory.

Dončić, who injured his back in the second quarter, led the Lakers with 28 points.

The Lakers, who were slight favorites to win the series before it began, stood no chance against the Timberwolves three bigs, and superstar Anthony Edwards. Since acquiring Dončić on February 3, Los Angeles has had to implement small ball lineups against opponents without a true center. 

The Timberwolves out-rebounded the Lakers 65 to 48 in Game 5, including 18-to-8 on the offensive glass. Thanks to Gobert, Minnesota outscored the Lakers 56-40 in the paint, and had twice as many second-chance points, a trend that was prevalent throughout the series.

“We knew we had to have a game like this from him [Rudy Gobert] at some point in the series," said Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch after the series-clinching victory. "He was awesome tonight. Our guys were really good in finding him...it was Rudy's night, and nobody was around to stop him."

At the trade deadline, the Lakers thought they had acquired their Anthony Davis replacement when they agreed to a trade with the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams, but the trade was later rescinded after Williams failed a physical. That decision may be the biggest reason the Lakers are heading home early. 

Without a true center that could help defend four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award winner in Gobert, the Lakers struggled with the Timberwolves size and rebounding. Minnesota dominated the offensive glass all series, including in Game 5, giving the Timberwolves multiple second-chance opportunities, which they cashed in all night long. 

If it wasn’t the trio of Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid dominating the paint against the Lakers, it was the late-game heroics by superstar and current face of the NBA in Anthony Edwards. 

"Rudy was a dragon tonight. He had 24 rebounds. He was a dragon from Game of Thrones tonight," said Edwards after the game talking about his teammate in Gobert. "He was incredible."

Every time the Timberwolves needed a basket late in games, it was Edwards who delivered. 

The Lakers led late in the fourth quarters in both Games 3 and 4 in Minnesota, but it was Edwards whose late-game execution exceeded that of the Lakers duo of Dončić and LeBron James, and is a major reason why the Timberwolves are moving on in the series to face either the Houston Rockets or Golden State Warriors in Round 2. 

"Everyone said Lakers in five," said Edwards about experts picking the Lakers to win the series before the playoffs began. "But it was Wolves in five."

Minnesota opened the game by getting Gobert going early and often. The Timberwolves opened up a 14-point lead, one that they would not relinquish until midway the end of the third quarter.

The Lakers were relentless in their effort to rally, but they expended a lot of energy on the offensive end to come back from multiple double-digit deficits. The Lakers finally captured the lead at the end of the third quarter on a three-pointer from Dorian Finney-Smith.

However, with a hobbled Dončić, an exhausted James, and no answer for Gobert, the Lakers dim hopes of extending the series dwindled down the stretch as the Timberwolves hung on for the victory.

"We obviously put ourselves in a position to be in the game, we just came up short every time," said Lakers' head coach J.J. Redick. "We missed wide open threes, we had our chances, we just couldn't make them."

When the final buzzer sounded, James walked directly off the court, stepping straight into an offseason with an uncertain future. 

James finished with 22 points in what could be the final game of his NBA career. 

“I don’t have an answer to that," said James when asked directly if he plans to retire. "I’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’ll see.”

One of James sole motivations for returning this season at the age of 40 was to play with his son Bronny James Jr. Having accomplished that, and with the future of Lakers in the capable hands of Dončić, James could decide to retire after another first round exit. 

James is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and leads in almost every major statistical category. He’s often said that when he does decide to retire, he will do it abruptly, and without a farewell tour or fan fare. However, even at age 40 he’s still playing at a high level, averaging 26.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in the playoffs this year. 

After James’ looming decision on whether or not he will play for the purple and gold next season, the Lakers next move will be to find a capable big man to play alongside Dončić and the team’s slew of wing defenders. 

Lakers’ current center Jaxon Hayes was thrust into a starting role after the Davis-for-Dončić trade, but he was virtually unplayable in the postseason and did not even see the court in Game 5. Max Kleber, appeared for the first time with the Lakers in Game 5 after breaking his right foot earlier this season with the Mavericks, but he showed signs of rust in just five minutes of action. 

"We knew it was going to be spot minutes," said Lakers' head coach J.J. Redick on Max Kleber. "He's an incredibly intelligent player."

A dominant big man, plus an entire season and training camp to play with Dončić could entice James to return for a 23rd season, but only time will tell if LeBron wants to continue to go through the grind of an 82-game season, plus playoffs. James has won just two playoff series in his five years since the Lakers won the 2020 championship in the bubble, and is no closer to matching Michael Jordan’s six rings than he was four years ago. 

"Every season that I didn’t win the Finals is a disappointment," said James after the loss. "It’s the same offseason … disappointment and [not being fulfilled]. Nothing changes for me."

Another positive for the Lakers is first year–and first time–head coach J.J. Redick. Redick seemed to work well with James and Dončić and guided the team to the No. 3 seed in a very difficult Western Conference, and the team’s first 50-win season since the 2019-20 campaign, the first with James and Davis together.

"There's always a mix of disappointment and gratitude. I'm certainly disappointed. This is not something I ever envisioned with this team, losing in the first round," said Redick after his first season as the Lakers coach. "Give Minnesota a lot of credit, they're a really good basketball team. We tried to make it work with what we had, and we came up a little short."