The Minnesota Timberwolves won the series opener 103-96 to send LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers out of the NBA playoffs without a hitch.
As the Lakers exited the postseason for the second straight year, French center Rudy Gobert of Minnesota put on a strong display on both ends of the court on Wednesday, finishing with 27 points and 24 rebounds.
The Wolves advance to a semifinal game between Golden State and the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference.
After a successful regular season that had gained impressive momentum following the stunning trade for Luka Doncic in February, the Lakers were forced to reflect on another disappointingly short postseason campaign.
As a result of Anthony Davis’ departure to Dallas, the Lakers’ failure to find a true defensive big on Wednesday brought back their collective frustration as Gobert dominated around the rim.
The Lakers, who had become the third seed after Doncic’s arrival, also found themselves struggling offensively, with only five three-pointers between them from James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves.
After the victory, Gobert told TNT television, “It feels great.” To come here and play the way we did during a season full of ups and downs means a lot.
There are only a few guys who want to win, they say. And many of the guys who have gone through hardship throughout their careers and lives, we are still in love with one another, have prepared us for this situation.
Julius Randle scored 23 points for Gobert, while Anthony Edwards added 15 points with 11 rebounds and eight assists.
With 28 points, Doncic and James had the most points, while Hachimura and James had 22.
Warriors and Rockets are able to win.
Houston’s 131-116 thrashing of the Warriors on Wednesday’s other playoff game cut the Warriors’ lead to 3-2, extending their Western Conference series.
When Warriors coach Steve Kerr waved the white flag and pulled Stephen Curry and the rest of his starters with 5:50 left in the third quarter, Fred VanVleet added 26 points, Amen Thompson added 25 points, and Dillon Brooks chipped in 24 for the Rockets, who had led by as many as 31 points and were up by 29.
The Rockets blasted out of the gate with their season on the line after suffering a humiliating defeat in a game-four thriller.
On 67.7% of their shots in the first quarter, they led 40-24.
In their opening period blitz, VanVleet made all 13 of their free throws, including three of Houston’s six three-pointers.
Curry and Jimmy Butler failed to score in the opening period, and the Warriors turned the ball over five times.
Midway through the second quarter, Curry made a three-pointer. However, Houston’s suffocating defense was difficult for the Warriors to overcome, and the Rockets led 76-49 at halftime.
Kerr said he had no reservations about pulling his starters in a potential clinching game, which gave Draymond Green, 37, and Butler, who both had thumb injuries, some rest while playing through game three with a pelvic injury.
When they play Game Six on Friday, they can still wrap up the series.
We can’t expect to defeat a great team on their home field because of that lack of defensive concentration and energy, Kerr said. They treated us like a family tonight.
Butler added eight points for the Warriors, while Curry added 13 overall. With five minutes left, Moses Moody led the Warriors’ reserves as they advanced to a late comeback attempt that resulted in a 13-point lead.
Then things got shaky again as Houston center Alperen Sengun was head-butted by Warriors reserve Pat Spencer, who was later ejected, and the Rockets rallied to win Game 5.
Source: Aljazeera
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