Rudy Gobert planted his flag in the paint as the Lakers had no answer. The French big man carried the Timberwolves to a gritty 103-96 Game 5 win, sealing their spot in the Western Conference semifinals.
In a night when the Timberwolves couldn’t hit water from a boat, Gobert became the storm. He powered his way to a playoff career-high 27 points and 24 rebounds, overwhelming a Los Angeles side that gambled on a centerless lineup and paid the price.
Minnesota shot a dismal 7-of-47 from beyond the arc, including an astonishing 17 consecutive misses spanning two quarters. But Gobert’s relentless presence inside masked their flaws and exposed the Lakers’ undersized frontcourt. “Feels great, but not vindication,” Gobert said. “It’s about a championship, and we’ve got a little bit more work to do before that.”
Head coach Chris Finch praised his team’s resilience. “We didn’t shoot the ball well, but I thought we were the tougher team mentally and physically,” he said. “Guys did a great job surviving the emotions of the game.”
Anthony Edwards added 15 points and 11 rebounds in a quieter performance by his standards, but it was enough. The Timberwolves have now won playoff series in consecutive years for the first time in franchise history and await the winner of the Golden State-Houston series.
For the Lakers, this was another bitter early exit despite a blockbuster midseason trade that paired LeBron James with Luka Dončić. Dončić posted 28 points and nine assists, James added 22, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a second straight first-round elimination.
Lakers coach JJ Redick offered a mix of honesty and grace: “Certainly disappointed but give Minnesota a lot of credit. They’re a really good basketball team.”
The Target Center roared as the final buzzer sounded. Minnesota fans have waited years for belief to match talent and with Gobert standing tall, they just might be on to something special.
