In a commanding performance, Rudy Gobert led the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 103–96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series, clinching the series 4–1 and propelling Minnesota into the Western Conference semifinals for the second consecutive year.
Gobert’s standout game featured 27 points and a postseason franchise-record 24 rebounds, marking one of the most dominant playoff performances in Timberwolves history. Despite Minnesota’s struggles from beyond the arc—shooting just 7-for-47—their dominance on the boards, with a 54–37 rebounding advantage, proved decisive.
Julius Randle contributed 23 points for the Timberwolves, while Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo faced challenges offensively. For the Lakers, Luka Dončić scored 28 points before being limited by a back injury, and LeBron James added 22 points. Rui Hachimura also chipped in 23 points. Despite narrowing the gap to two points late in the fourth quarter, the Lakers couldn’t overcome the Timberwolves’ resilience.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch praised his team’s mental and physical toughness, stating, “We showed a lot of mental and physical toughness.” Conversely, Lakers coach JJ Redick expressed optimism about the future of the Dončić-James duo, despite their early playoff exit.
With this victory, the Timberwolves await their next opponent in the semifinals, set to face either the Houston Rockets or the Golden State Warriors.
