Rudy Gobert dominates small-ball Lakers and the Timberwolves advance with a 103-96 win in Game 5

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Minnesota Timberwolves overcame a rough shooting night in Game 5 to eliminate the Los Angeles Lakers and move on to the second round of the NBA playoffs.

Despite the team’s struggles from beyond the arc, Rudy Gobert delivered a dominant performance, finishing with playoff career highs of 27 points and 24 rebounds. He stepped up in a major way, especially after the Lakers opted for a small-ball lineup with no true center. His impact on both ends of the floor helped Minnesota secure a 103-96 victory Wednesday night and win the first-round series.

Gobert’s offensive output surpassed his total from the previous four games combined, and he exploited the Lakers’ lack of interior defense throughout the night. Even with Minnesota shooting just 7-of-47 from three-point range — including a stretch of 17 consecutive misses — Gobert’s presence in the paint carried the team. Mike Conley finally broke the cold streak with a clutch three-pointer with 1:22 remaining, sealing the win.

Anthony Edwards added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the sixth-seeded Timberwolves, who have now won a playoff series in consecutive seasons — a first in franchise history. They await the winner of the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors series. The Rockets forced a Game 6 on Wednesday, but trail 3-2 heading into Friday’s matchup.

For the Lakers, Luka Doncic scored 28 points with nine assists, while LeBron James added 22 points. Rui Hachimura contributed 23 points, but it wasn’t enough to save the season. The Lakers, despite trading for Doncic midseason, have now fallen in the first round for the second straight year. Since their 2020 championship run in the NBA bubble, they’ve advanced past the opening round only once in five seasons.