Timberwolves Eliminate Lakers in Game 5, Raise Serious Questions About L.A.’s Future

The Los Angeles Lakers’ season came to a bitter end on Tuesday night as they were eliminated from the 2025 NBA Playoffs by the surging Minnesota Timberwolves in a 103-96 Game 5 defeat at Crypto.com Arena. It was a physical, grind-it-out battle, but Minnesota ultimately proved to be the more composed and consistent team down the stretch. They took the series 4-1 and punched their ticket to the Western Conference semifinals.

The Lakers, despite showing flashes of brilliance and holding a slim lead late in the third quarter, collapsed in the final period. Their offense sputtered at the worst possible moment, while Minnesota’s defense clamped down. The Timberwolves dominated the boards all night long and turned second-chance points into momentum-shifting plays. Their defensive intensity, combined with unrelenting effort on the glass, became the defining trait of the series.

Rudy Gobert was an absolute force for the Timberwolves, delivering one of the best playoff performances of his career. He racked up 27 points and 24 rebounds, a franchise record for boards in a postseason game. His presence in the paint was overwhelming, as he altered shots, secured defensive rebounds, and gave his team crucial extra possessions. While Minnesota struggled mightily from beyond the arc — shooting an abysmal 7-of-47 from three — their control of the interior made up for it. They out-rebounded the Lakers 54-37, including 18 offensive rebounds that silenced any hope of a late Los Angeles surge.

For the Lakers, Luka Dončić carried much of the offensive burden, scoring 28 points despite playing through visible discomfort due to a nagging back injury. LeBron James added 22 points and Rui Hachimura came off the bench with an energetic 23-point performance, but the team struggled to find rhythm when it mattered most. Turnovers plagued them in key stretches, and once again, perimeter shooting let them down. The Lakers looked out of sync, resorting to isolation plays and contested jumpers as the Timberwolves ratcheted up the defensive pressure.

The defeat raises some uncomfortable but necessary questions for the Lakers’ front office. After trading heavily for Dončić in the offseason to build around James in what many suspect may be the twilight of his career, the team failed to move past the first round. Chemistry issues, a lack of bench production, and inconsistent defense were persistent themes throughout the season and reared their heads again in this series. There’s no easy fix, but it’s clear that running it back with the same formula may not be viable.

James, who turns 41 later this year, was reflective after the loss. Though he has defied Father Time like few others in sports history, even he must now weigh the demands of another season against the diminishing returns of a roster that hasn’t gelled as expected. Dončić, for his part, continues to prove he’s one of the most dynamic scorers in the league, but health and a lack of reliable supporting cast leave him exposed when defenses collapse.

Minnesota, meanwhile, deserves immense credit. After dropping Game 1, they reeled off four straight victories by playing smart, hard-nosed basketball. Anthony Edwards didn’t have a standout game offensively in Game 5, but his defense and leadership set the tone. Karl-Anthony Towns contributed crucial buckets and spacing, and the bench played with a collective edge that kept L.A. on its heels. Most importantly, they stayed locked in even when shots weren’t falling — a sign of maturity that had often eluded them in past playoff appearances.

With the win, the Timberwolves advance to the Western Conference semifinals where they’ll face the winner of the Rockets-Warriors series. After this performance, they’ve earned the right to be seen as legitimate contenders in a loaded Western Conference. They’ve combined youth, length, defense, and rebounding into a potent formula that doesn’t rely on any one player being perfect — a blueprint that could carry them far.

As for the Lakers, this early exit stings. The franchise entered the season with championship aspirations and exits it facing another round of soul-searching. Whether it’s reshaping the roster, moving on from veterans, or even reconsidering coaching strategies, change is coming. The question is whether it will be bold enough to match the scale of their disappointment.

Time may still be on Dončić’s side. For James, time may be the greatest opponent yet. For the Lakers as a whole, the clock is ticking, and they’ve got an offseason to decide whether they’ll rebuild, retool, or risk running on fumes in a league that’s never been more competitive.