Lakers vs Wolves Thriller: Anthony Edwards Powers Minnesota to 3-1 Lead

MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards saw his moment coming. As the fourth quarter began Sunday night at the Target Center during the Lakers vs Wolves Game 4, he recognized the Los Angeles Lakers were fading fast. With head coach JJ Redick electing not to substitute once after halftime, the same five Lakers pushed through exhaustion — but Edwards smelled blood in the water.

“I could tell they were getting tired,” Edwards said after the Timberwolves’ thrilling 116-113 comeback win, putting Minnesota up 3-1 in their Western Conference first-round series. “I just had to keep pushing. Keep my foot on the gas.”

Edwards delivered a monster performance, scoring 16 of his game-high 43 points in the final quarter. His explosive closing stretch nearly matched the entire Lakers team, who mustered only 19 points in the fourth. The Wolves, feeding off Edwards’ relentless energy, erased a 10-point deficit and now stand one win away from advancing.

Meanwhile, the Lakers shot just 5-for-18 in the final frame. LeBron James, who turned in an otherwise tremendous effort with 27 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, three steals, and three blocks, insisted that exhaustion wasn’t the main culprit.

“We got the looks we wanted,” James said postgame. “Luka [Doncic] had a layup to put us up seven. I had a layup to extend the lead. We just missed shots. It wasn’t fatigue.”

Unconventional Strategy: Redick’s Five-Man Bet

Lakers rookie coach JJ Redick made a bold, historic choice: he kept his starting five on the court the entire second half. According to Elias Sports Bureau, no NBA team had done that in the playoffs since at least 1998.

Redick said the decision wasn’t pre-planned. “I asked them at the start of the fourth if they needed subs,” Redick explained. “I told them we had two timeouts if they needed a break. They all wanted to stay out there. They gave everything they had.”

Initially, it seemed genius. After trailing most of the first half, the Lakers exploded in the third quarter, fueled by energy from an unexpected source: reserve forward Dorian Finney-Smith. Inserted to start the second half over center Jaxson Hayes, Finney-Smith joined James, Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura on a 14-0 blitz that turned the game around. L.A. dominated the third quarter 36-23.

Finney-Smith, who tallied 6 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in 41 minutes, supported the decision. “It’s the playoffs,” he said. “Nobody wants to sit down.”

Source: Edwards zooms past ‘gassed’ Lakers as Wolves take 3-1 lead

Late-Game Collapses and Controversies

Despite their third-quarter heroics, the Lakers stumbled badly down the stretch. Doncic, who returned from a stomach bug to score a team-high 38 points, went quiet in the fourth with just seven points. James went scoreless, missing both his field goal attempts.

Fatigue or not, the Lakers couldn’t execute when it mattered most — and they weren’t shy about blaming the referees.

With 33 seconds left and trailing 114-113, Doncic tripped while bringing the ball up and was forced to burn a timeout. Redick protested that it should have been a foul.

“We watched it,” Redick said. “Luka got tripped. Blatantly. Should’ve been at the line.”

Doncic agreed, adding, “I definitely got tripped.”

After the timeout, things unraveled further. LeBron attempted a risky sideline inbound pass to Doncic rather than inbounding safely to the backcourt, fearful of an eight-second violation. The ball was tipped, leading to a turnover.

James admitted postgame that if he had it back, he would have done things differently.

“Should’ve had someone break to the backcourt,” he said. “We still had a second to spare.”

Adding to their frustration, another controversial whistle stung L.A. in the final 11 seconds. Originally ruled Timberwolves ball out-of-bounds, a coach’s challenge by Wolves coach Chris Finch prompted a review. Officials reversed the call, deciding James fouled Edwards on the play.

James, clearly frustrated, disagreed with the overturn.

“Hand is part of the ball. That’s what they always say,” James said. “I got the hand, ball goes out. Seen it a hundred times.”

Edwards, smiling afterward, saw it differently.

“I knew Bron fouled me,” Edwards said. “Looked right at Coach Finch. Told him to challenge it. Great overturn.”

Edwards calmly sank two free throws to push the Wolves up three.

Austin Reaves had one last look to save the Lakers, launching a three-pointer from the corner at the buzzer. It clanged off the rim.

Game over.

What’s Next: Lakers’ Last Stand

The series now shifts back to Los Angeles for Game 5. The Lakers, trailing 3-1, will need to win three straight to survive. One loss, and their season is over.

Despite the dire situation, Lakers forward Rui Hachimura expressed confidence.

“We’re going to get one,” Hachimura said. “Yeah, we’re going to get one.”

The Lakers’ issues are multi-layered. Redick’s decision to lean on his starters might have been brave, but it left the team drained when it mattered most. Doncic and James combined for 46 minutes each — a heavy burden, even for superstars.

Meanwhile, Minnesota showed the resilience of a contender. They took the Lakers’ best punch and responded with poise. Led by Edwards’ fearless drive and Finch’s steady leadership, the Wolves stand poised to win their first playoff series since 2004.

The Bigger Picture: A Changing of the Guard

For over two decades, playoff basketball in the West has been shaped by legends like LeBron James. But Game 4 felt like a symbolic passing of the torch. Anthony Edwards, the 22-year-old dynamo, stole the spotlight. He didn’t just win the game. He owned it.

“I live for these moments,” Edwards said. “I’m built for this.”

If the Lakers can’t adjust — if they can’t find a way to rest their stars, hit key shots, and limit Edwards — their season could end sooner than anyone expected.

For now, though, Minnesota and its fans can savor the moment. Anthony Edwards came of age Sunday night, and the Timberwolves are one win away from moving on — leaving the Lakers gasping for answers.

Read More: Hunter Renfrow’s NFL Return: Panthers Ink Veteran Receiver to 1-Year Deal