The Lakers' lack of a true center was exploited throughout the series, particularly in Wednesday's matchup. Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, who had not scored more than six points or secured more than 10 rebounds prior to Game 5, dominated with 27 points and 24 boards to send Minnesota to the next round.

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2024-25 NBA season ended prematurely than most expected, exiting the first round of the playoffs after losing in five games to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Because of this early flameout,