Anthony Edwards Takes Over in Crunch Time
With the spotlight on him and the season in the balance, Anthony Edwards turned Game 4 into his personal showcase. He scored a jaw-dropping 43 points, including 16 in the last quarter, completely flipping the energy in the Target Center. Every time the Lakers tried to regroup, Edwards pushed harder, putting pressure on their tired legs and jumpstarting the crowd.
The Timberwolves had trailed by 10 points early in the fourth, but Edwards would not let them fold. He slashed to the basket, drew contact, and made a habit of finishing tough layups. As the Lakers’ defense sagged, he hit pull-up jumpers and drew fouls, keeping the Wolves in striking distance.
Lakers Falter Down the Stretch
LeBron James came out swinging, logging a massive 46 minutes and stuffing the stat sheet with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists. He was everywhere—running the break, creating for teammates, and taking on the Wolves' best scorers. But by the fourth quarter, it was clear the Lakers’ engines were running on fumes. Point-blank shots dropped off the rim, passes went astray, and LeBron—usually the calmest guy in chaos—missed two critical late layups.
Adding to L.A.'s frustration, Luka Dončić—who had been hot all night—also cooled off when it mattered most. He finished with 38 points, but the team’s 5-for-18 effort in the fourth quarter doomed any hopes of a comeback. Fatigue set in, and opportunities to tie or take the lead slipped away one possession at a time.
No moment summed up the Lakers’ crunch-time struggles like the closing seconds. Down by two, they had a shot after a Wolves turnover, only to miss a short jumper, then foul Edwards as he raced upcourt. A coach’s challenge wiped out a phantom offensive foul, sending Edwards to the line, where he calmly sealed the game with free throws.
Jaden McDaniels stepped up for Minnesota, too, hitting a critical layup and converting the and-one that put the Timberwolves ahead to stay. Mike Conley, even dealing with nagging injuries, delivered key stops and helped steady the young Wolves' backcourt when things looked dicey.
So now, with a 3-1 lead in hand, the Timberwolves are one win away from moving deeper into the NBA Playoffs. The Lakers, staring at elimination, must now contend with questions about health, fatigue, and whether they can slow down the rising star who just caught fire at the perfect time.
- Apr, 28 2025
- Cassius Montgomery
- 0 Comments
- View posts
- permalink
Write a comment