Maybe in response to Anthony Edwards’ massive sport and feeling a way of desperation, Lakers coach JJ Redick took a significant gamble Sunday.
It did not repay.
Redick performed the identical 5 gamers all the second half In Sport 4 because the Los Angeles Lakers ran out of gasoline and fell to the Timberwolves 116-113, as Minnesota took a commanding 3-1 lead within the first-round collection
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Edwards scored 43 factors — 16 within the fourth quarter — and added 9 rebounds and 6 assists, however it was Redick’s determination that was maybe the important thing issue.
Redick stated postgame he determined to not sub out anybody throughout halftime, protecting the five-man lineup of LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Dorian Finney-Smith and Rui Hachimura on the ground for the whole lot of the second half.
“We definitely performed nicely sufficient to win, and we gave the hassle to win. It isn’t a deliberate factor to play 5 guys [for] a complete second half,” Redick stated. “[I] requested them firstly of the fourth quarter, instructed them we had two further timeouts, in the event you want a sub tell us. These guys gave rather a lot.”
When requested if he was apprehensive about overworking his gamers, Redick stated he trusted them to talk up in the event that they wanted to return out. “As soon as you have form of made that call and so they all are in, you have simply gotta belief them,” he stated.
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As anticipated, the response to Redick’s technique was fairly robust:
The Lakers did open the second half with a 14-0 run and quieted the Minnesota house crowd. However the Timberwolves began to push again, fueled by a stellar second half from Edwards — and maybe some fatigue on the Lakers’ aspect. A large-open 3 from Naz Reid with 4 minutes remaining within the sport received Minnesota inside two factors after the workforce trailed by as many as 12 factors late within the third quarter and entered the fourth down by 10.
The Timberwolves pulled to a two-possession lead with two minutes left after an enormous and-1 from Donte DiVincenzo, however 3-pointers from Reaves and Finney-Smith pulled the Lakers again in entrance. Then, within the ultimate minute, Reaves fouled Timberwolves ahead Jaden McDaniels for an and-1 alternative, incomes his fifth foul as McDaniels transformed the free throw to provide Minnesota a 114-113 lead.
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With lower than 10 seconds remaining, James slapped the ball out of Edwards’ fingers in what was initially dominated a turnover, resulting in a Minnesota problem and a prolonged evaluation. An overhead video angle made it clear James made contact with Edwards’ wrist, leading to a foul. Edwards hit each free throws, giving the Timberwolves the 116-113 lead.
Reaves had an opportunity for a game-tying 3, however it bounced out of the basket.
After the sport, Redick’s chosen 5 all stated that they had been positive with staying in for therefore lengthy, however that it was a “powerful” loss. Reaves stated postgame that he was positive to do “no matter coach wanted me to do,” and that he had gotten sufficient relaxation through the first half; Hachimura stated that he was “able to play the entire sport,” however admitted that the preliminary chemistry between the 5 of them began to collapse in the direction of the top.
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Finney-Smith added that he was additionally “all the time prepared” however admitted that he did not assume they might use that technique for Sport 5.
“It was powerful, you already know, however it’s playoffs,” Finney-Smith stated of taking part in all the second half. “I don’t assume no one needed to return out of the sport anyway. I do not assume no one’s gonna use that as an excuse.”
And for James, the Lakers workforce chief stated that he thought the workforce’s second-half struggles had extra to do with failing to benefit from alternatives relatively than tiring out. “I don’t assume fatigue had something to do with it,” he stated. “Simply lacking some point-blank photographs.”
The Lakers definitely had an opportunity to win, however what many shall be questioning is Redick’s determination to trip the identical 5 gamers for all the second half. The Lakers’ lack of depth was all the time going to be an issue this collection, however Redick could not have been extra clear about who on his roster he trusts.
The Lakers entered Sunday’s contest off in the future of relaxation and are actually a loss away from elimination with issues definitely wanting dire. Sport 5 is 10 p.m. ET Wednesday in Los Angeles.
