Rudy Gobert had Playoffs race maximums with 27 points and 24 rebounds, Julius Randle added 23 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves advanced in the NBA playoffs with a 103-96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in game 5 of their first.
Anthony Edwards had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the wolves of sixth seded, who won three consecutive games to eliminate LeBron James and Luka Doncic from their first postseason together.
After winning a playoffs round in consecutive seasons for the first time in the history of the franchise, Minnesota faces the winner of the Houston series with Golden State. The elimination of Avoid Rockets on Wednesday, and game 6 is Friday with the Warriors leading 3-2.
Doncic had 28 points and nine assists, while James added 22 points for the Lakers, who lost in the first round for the second consecutive postseason despite reconfiguring his list in the middle of the season with his seismic trade by Doncic.
Rui hashimura scored 23 points for the Lakers, who have advanced since the first round only once in five seasons from the 2020 championship in the Florida bubble.
With Gobert executing themselves in the painting while the Lakers played deliberately without a center, Minnesota won the game 5 despite going 7 by 47 in attempts of 3 points, including 17 consecutive failures between 3 with 1:22 Tolery.
After dividing the first two games in Los Angeles, the wolves took advantage of the control of the series in victories at a consecutive narrow house with a higher execution of the late game.
Gobert then step forward when the Lakers deployed a small ball alignment for game 5, with the French center scoring more points than he achieved in the first four games of the combined series.
Minnesota took care of a narrow advantage in the section, and the Lakers lost five consecutive shots while 3 1/2 minutes between points passed.
After playing the entire second half of game 4 with five players, the Lakers changed their initial alignment for game 5, keeping the Tenaz Dorian Finney-Smith instead of the Jaxson Hayes center.
The Lakers coach JJ Redick defended his decision to avoid substitutions this week, even reacting with evidence when a journalist asked him about his decision process before game 5.
Minnesota jumped to an advantage of 14 points in the first quarter, but the Lakers recovered before Doncic went to the locker room a minute before part time after landing awkwardly on their knees due to a strong lack of Donte Divinnzo. Doncic returned to the court moments before the third quarter began, with a large orthopedic device that he ruled out to continue playing.
The terrible shooting of the wolves kept him close, and the Lakers took their first front when Doncic directed a demonstration at the end of the third.
James limited with the duration of the Lakers bank the last quarter after lowering with strength on his Balcoso ankle, but returned some possessions later.
Associated Press reports.
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