On May 2, the first round of the 2024-25 NBA playoffs continued. The Los Angeles Lakers returned to their home court, CryptoNet Arena, to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the crucial G5 match of the series. Previously, the Timberwolves had already taken a 3-1 lead and got the match point. In this game, although the Lakers fought tenaciously under the leadership of Doncic and James, they still lost to their opponents 96-103 in the end, and were eliminated with a total score of 1-4, stopping in the first round of the playoffs.

At the beginning of the game, the Lakers were slow to get into the game, with a low outside hit rate and many unsuccessful shots. On the other hand, the Timberwolves, led by Gobert and Edwards, quickly established a score advantage with tacit cooperation between inside and outside lines. At the end of the first quarter, the Timberwolves were already leading by 9 points. Entering the second quarter, the Lakers gradually regained their touch, especially Hachimura and Doncic's scoring improvement, but the Timberwolves still maintained their lead with their overall smooth offensive, and the score difference widened to double digits at the end of the half.

In the second half, the Lakers significantly strengthened their defense and increased their pace on offense, gradually closing the gap. Driven by Doncic, the Lakers once overtook the opponent. At the end of the third quarter, the two teams entered a tug-of-war, with the score alternating several times, and the atmosphere was extremely tense. Entering the final decisive moment of the final quarter, the two teams were only 1 point apart, but the Lakers' hit rate in the key rounds was not good, while the Timberwolves scored from multiple points, and finally the score was fixed at 103-96 , successfully ending the series away from home.

Lakers player statistics

Doncic 28 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, Hachimura 23 points, 4 rebounds, James 22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, Reeves 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, Finney-Smith 7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, Vanderbilt 2 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, Kleber 2 points, Vincent 3 rebounds, 2 assists

Timberwolves player statistics

Gobert 27 points, 24 rebounds, 2 blocks, Randle 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, Edwards 15 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, Walker 10 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, DiVincenzo 9 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, Conley 8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, McDaniels 8 points, 3 rebounds, Reid 3 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks

After this loss, the Lakers were eliminated by the Timberwolves with a score of 1-4 , and stopped in the first round of the playoffs, bidding farewell to the 2024-25 season in advance. For the purple and gold army with Doncic and James, this season's early elimination is undoubtedly a big loss. The Timberwolves, on the other hand, have advanced to the Western Conference semifinals and will wait for the next round of opponents to continue their playoff journey.