Game 4 of this first-round series in the NBA playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves was a must-win situation for the Los Angeles Lakers. Still, LeBron James and company couldn't come through on the road, forcing an elimination game on Wednesday back in Los Angeles.

• Anthony Edwards is a BEAST: Game-high 43 points
• Luka is back to being LUKA
• LeBron fills up the stat sheet, but makes costly mistakes late in the fourth
• Six bench points for the Lakers: All from Dorian Finney-Smith
• Jaxson Hayes might as well stay on the bench: Four minutes in Game 4
• Rui Hachimura was SOLID
• Lakers can't lean on four players to win in the playoffs

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The Los Angeles Lakers fell flat late in Game 3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with LeBron James and company unable to hold off Anthony Edwards and his squad from taking the series lead on their home floor. Now the Lakers face another must-win scenario in Game 4 before the series shifts back to Los Angeles for Game 5.

• Luka's illness
• LeBron's solid performance
• Anthony Edwards is a BEAST
• The Lakers could be COOKED

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The Los Angeles Lakers bounce back with a vengeance in Game 2 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in their first-round series in the NBA playoffs, with Luka Doncic and company showing some grit against a physical and motivated squad led by superstar Anthony Edwards.

• Lakers bring some much-needed grit and energy
• Naz Reid neutralized
• LA comes through in MUST-WIN situation
• Game 3 in Minnesota

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The Los Angeles Lakers came into Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a ton of confidence, but clearly underestimated a talented team led by Anthony Edwards, which prides itself on the defensive side of the basketball.

• Lack of effort leads to blowout loss in Game 1
• Naz Reid/Jaden McDaniels duo
• Austin Reaves struggles
• Lakers' bench fails to show up
• Game 2: Much-win in LA

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The Los Angeles Lakers finally know who they'll face in the first round of the NBA playoffs, as Luka Doncic and company are set to do battle with Anthony Edwards' Minnesota Timberwolves starting April 19 in LA.

• Favorable matchup for LA
• Luka vs. Antman
• Minnesota's size could pose a problem

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The Los Angeles Lakers got another gem from Luka Doncic as they made easy work of the shorthanded Houston Rockets, resulting in securing the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference ahead of the NBA playoffs.

• Luka drops 39 points in three quarters
• Lakers clinch Pacific Division title for first time since 2020
• Waiting game begins for first-round opponent

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Luka Doncic's return to Dallas didn't disappoint. The superstar scored 45 points against the Dallas Mavericks, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a win and clinching a playoff spot.

• Emotional night for Luka
• Put emotions aside and crushed the Mavs
• Lakers will be no lower than a sixth seed in the West
• Two regular-season games remain for LA

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The Los Angeles Lakers were potentially on the cusp of clinching a spot in the NBA playoffs on Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder until the referees took the game into their own hands, ejecting Luka Doncic and derailing any chance for Los Angeles to pull off the two-game sweep on the road.

• NBA refs need to be held accountable
• Soft NBA
• Luka Doncic revenge game in Dallas
• Three regular-season games remain

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