The Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff hopes now hang by a thread after a 116-113 Game 4 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, despite Luka Dončić’s 38-point resurgence and Dorian Finney-Smith’s clutch shooting. Dončić, battling a stomach bug that limited him to 17 points in Game 3, exploded for 13-of-28 shooting but faltered late (1-of-6 in the fourth) Finney-Smith drained critical back-to-back threes to give the Lakers a brief lead with 1: left, but Anthony Edwards’ 43-point explosion sealed Minnesota’s comeback
LeBron James delivered 27 points and 12 rebounds, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain for third-most playoff double-doubles in NBA history, yet went scoreless in the final quarter as the Wolves dominated late (outscoring L.A. 105-69 in fourth quarters this series) Finney-Smith praised Dončić’s toughness post-Game 3, noting he played through vomiting and a swollen elbow: “He’s just a tough guy… He’ll be ready next game”
The Lakers face elimination in Wednesday’s Game 5, needing to solve Minnesota’s fourth-quarter dominance. Can Dončić and Finney-Smith spark a survival bid, or will Edwards’ ascent end their season?
