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Prepare for today’s NBA Playoffs with the Los Angeles Lakers heading to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center to face off in Game 4 of the series. The Timberwolves edged a 2-1 series lead in Game 3, so a win for the Lakers tonight will keep the series level, while a victory for the Timberwolves will help them run away with the lead.
The game tips off this afternoon at 3:30 PM ET on the dot, so be sure to check out our picks before choosing whether they’re something you want to fade or follow!
The Lakers would start their postseason journey with two home games, the first of which ended in a 117-95 loss, with only Luke Doncic making a dent in the scoring for LA with 37 points. Game 2 saw a valiant response from the Lakers, winning 94-85 to tie up the series with Doncic (31 points and 12 rebounds) and LeBron James (21 points and 11 rebounds) posting double-doubles. Their first away game in Minnesota ended poorly for the Lakers, falling 104-116 to the home side, although LeBron still racked up 38 points and 10 rebounds for another double-double.
With the Timberwolves leading the series 2-1 heading into Game 4, LA will have to pull off some magic to crush Minnesota’s hopes of pulling away and returning to Game 5 at home with a level series. Lakers forward and guard Luka Doncic will most certainly lead the way, as he’s had a tremendous postseason after three games played, averaging 28.3 PPG, 6 APG, and 9 RPG, and I expect him to put up 30+ points in this one.
LeBron James will bear some of the weight of his LA side, as he follows close to Doncic’s postseason stats and averages 26 PPG, 4.7 APG, and 8.7 RPG. Along with guard Austin Reaves and his average 17.3 PPG, 4.0 APG, and 5.0 RPG, the dynamic duo must go full throttle to outscore a troubling Timberwolves side to secure the win in Game 4.
The Timberwolves started the series just how they wanted, although it’s far from over, considering how dangerous LA can be at point scoring. Game 1 showed a spectacular start Minnesota envisioned, taking the win at Crypto.com Arena 117-95 on April 19, with Jaden McDaniels (25 points, 2 assists and 9 rebounds), Anthony Edwards (22 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds), and Naz Reid (23 points, 2 assists and 5 rebounds) leading the way with 20+ points a piece. Julius Randle finished with 16 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds. In Game 2, only two players, Julius Randle (27 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds) and Anthony Edwards (25 points and 6 rebounds) managed to hit 25+ points, which is part of the reason they lost.
Game 3 was a necessary turnaround for Minnesota in their first home game, seeing forward Jaden McDaniels reach 30 points and 5 assists, with teammates Anthony Edwards (29 points, 8 assists and 8 rebounds) and Julius Randle (22 points, 4 assists and 5 rebounds) pulling their weight on the scoreboard.
Game 4 will be a true test of the Timberwolves’ strength, as seeing out the Lakers at Game 5 in the series would be a true accomplishment for the team to relish. Minnesota’s guard Anthony Edwards will be the player to watch, leading his team points in the postseason, averaging 25.3 PPG, 5.7 APG, and 7.3 RPG, with Julius Randle (21.7 PPG, 5 APG, 4.7 RPG) and Jaden McDaniels (21 PPG, 1.3 APG, and 6 RPG) not lacking too far behind. If center-forward Naz Reid can ramp up his efforts to continue his playoff stats of 14.3 PPG, 1.0 APG, and 4.3 RPG, Minnesota will have near-perfect personnel for taking down the Lakers in Game 4.
This one is a must-win for the Lakers, especially seeing they lost one of their first two home games in the series. The main difference between the two sides is that the Timberwolves have broader personnel that can contribute to both scoring and rebounds.
The Lakers’ stats seem to be purely dominated by Doncic, James, and a bit of Reaves, although it’s possible that if Luke Doncic commits another 30+ points, the Lakers could tie the series. On the flip side, it’ll just take Timberwolves Anthony Edwards or Julius Randle to go off in points to run away with a potential win in Game 4.
Liam has been a major sports fan and soccer player for over a decade, with a particular focus on major top-level soccer leagues, including the EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and MLS. He has written numerous promotional articles for various top sportsbooks and continues to publish historical and factual sports articles covering the NFL, MLS, NHL, MLB, EPL and more.