The Los Angeles Lakers had been traditionally unhealthy within the fourth quarter throughout their 4-1 first-round series loss to the Timberwolves.
JJ Redick’s males had been outscored 127-85 within the last interval, averaging 17 fourth-quarter factors on 29 % taking pictures and 23 % from three.
Solely 16.9 % of the Lakers’ 502 total factors got here within the fourth quarter, which is the bottom share by any group in NBA playoff historical past.
In Video games 4 and 5, Luka Doncic and LeBron James shot a mixed 4-of-18 within the fourth quarter. Remarkably, they had been each outscored by Timberwolves sixth man Naz Reid throughout the 5 fourth quarters.
The end result was significantly stunning because the Lakers had been among the finest clutch groups within the common season. The Purple and Gold were 23-16 in video games determined by 5 or fewer factors within the last 5 minutes, routinely discovering methods to shut out nail-biting contests. It additionally helped that they’d three confirmed closers in Doncic, James and Austin Reaves, making their postseason failures all of the extra stunning.
JJ Redick refused in charge his gamers’ offensive execution or effort within the fourth quarter, as an alternative citing unhealthy luck and the larger Timberwolves’ skill to gather offensive rebounds.
“We executed nice within the fourth quarter,” Redick told reporters. “Missed pictures on the rim, missed a bunch of threes, shot 12-for-52 for the sequence within the fourth quarter from three…We clearly put ourselves ready to be within the sport 3 times within the fourth quarter, and simply got here up brief each time.”
In Wednesday’s Sport 5, the Lakers had been outscored 22-16 within the fourth however had loads of attractiveness. Doncic missed a wide-open layup, and James missed two makeable pictures within the last stretch. Once more, Redick felt his gamers did their half in creating alternatives to attain.
“The offensive a part of it specifically tonight, I imply, we missed broad open threes, we missed a few pictures on the rim.”
Many cited fatigue as a purpose for James and Doncic’s poor fourth-quarter performances, however the stars refused to make excuses. Even Reaves took accountability for letting his teammates down.
