Game 4 Preview: Lakers at Timberwolves

Following a clutch win in game 3, the Timberwolves find themselves with the opportunity to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.

Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers – Game 3
Date: April 27th, 2025
Time: 2:30 PM CDT
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: ABC
Radio Coverage: Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Game 4 Preview: A chance to take control

The Minnesota Timberwolves have a 2-1 series lead over the Los Angeles Lakers. Yes, the same Lakers team that media pundits universally picked to beat the Timberwolves. Timberwolves fans were told the Lakers would have too much shot creation to keep pace, or that we stood little chance in clutch time against players like LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

Well, the Lakers may have Luka Doncic, but the Timberwolves have Jaden McDaniels.

McDaniels’ 30-point night ignited the Target Center, whose timely contributions buoyed the Timberwolves against LeBron James, who played as if he had spent the previous night bathing in the fountain of youth. Maybe he’ll share the whereabouts, but it matters little in the end. Minnesota exercised their clutch time demons, slamming the door shut on the tired Lakers with a 13-1 run to take game 3. Not bad for a team that wasn’t supposed to survive the clutch against the onslaught of Laker shot creators.

The Timberwolves have seized momentum in this series and look to establish a 3-1 stranglehold Sunday. After all the talk about Luka and LeBron, it’s Minnesota stealing the spotlight, led by their high-flying superstar Anthony Edwards on a quest to disrupt the narrative. To be the best, you have to beat the best.

Last postseason, Anthony Edwards sent his childhood idol Kevin Durant home empty-handed, and then bested the current best player in the world, Nikola Jokic, in an epic 7 game clash. Now, Edwards has a chance to establish himself as the league’s premier GOAT hunter, with an opportunity to not only get revenge on Luka but knock off the King himself.

It’s all in front of Minnesota now, so what needs to happen to take game 4? Let’s dive in!

Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Can Edwards stay sharp?

Game 3 started slowly for Edwards, missing several layups and point-blank floaters. As LA punched Minnesota in the mouth in the 2nd quarter, you began to wonder when Edwards would come to the party. Boy, did he ever come to the party.

As the game progressed, the 23-year-old superstar seized his moment, culminating in manufacturing a 13-1 run in clutch time to escape a 103-103 deadlock with a win on home court. Edwards did it with his explosiveness on the drive, shooting from deep, and making the right reads when the defense collapsed. This is the Anthony Edwards that can make anything possible for Minnesota.

Edwards needs to play decisive basketball and penetrate the defense.

Jaden McDaniels is a matchup problem

What Jaden McDaniels has done in this series has been nothing short of remarkable. Not only is the 24-year-old two-way monster averaging 21 points per contest, but he’s also taken on the challenge of guarding Luka Doncic.

With LA’s lack of valid point of attack defenders, their defensive strategy has essentially been sitting in the gaps and clogging the floor to stop Edwards. With Randle also receiving significant attention, the Lakers have frequently resorted to ‘hiding’ Luka Doncic on Jaden McDaniels. When Jaxon Hayes sits, nobody on LA can match Jaden’s size, and the 6’11” wing has imposed his will on the series. Ferociously taking it to Luka Doncic on both ends of the court as he barrels his way to premium offensive spots.

With Luka as the primary defender, Jaden McDaniels has shot 63.2% from the floor. The Lakers do not have a matchup for Jaden if they want to key in on Anthony Edwards. Minnesota must continue to abuse this mismatch and lean into Jaden’s newfound aggressiveness.

Can Rudy Gobert settle into the series?

It’s truly a tragedy. In a series that Rudy Gobert has exonerated himself as a perimeter defender, he’s solidified his reputation as someone you can play off the court.

Rudy has been nothing short of extraordinary on the defensive end. Still, Minnesota desperately needs their 7’1” behemoth to establish himself both on the glass and on the offensive side of the court. Through three games, Rudy Gobert has 9 points and 15 rebounds total. That’s not going to cut it, and while the Lakers have done an exemplary job of gang rebounding and getting physical with Gobert, Rudy needs to utilize his size to establish control of the glass.

Rudy has frequently found himself wide open out of pick-and-roll sets, and while you want the ball in Anthony Edwards’ hands, it wouldn’t hurt to throw the Frenchman a bone to settle him into the series.

You need more from Gobert, and if you can achieve control of the boards, the Lakers will have a mountain to climb to come away with a win.

Can Minnesota’s “others” make an impact

Minnesota’s bench trio of Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker has had a roller coaster of a series. To close the game, Naz Reid came up huge in clutch with a crucial make from deep, and you need to see more of it from this bench trio. The Lakers cannot match Minnesota’s depth, but outside of Game 1, the trio hasn’t truly flexed their advantage.

Each has had their moments in the series, but the lack of consistency has allowed the Lakers to keep pace with Minnesota while Luka Doncic sits. If the trio can begin finding a consistent rhythm, the lineup’s versatility for Minnesota will continue to give the Lakers problems; their roster isn’t designed to solve them.

Game 4 is a short turnaround, and Minnesota needs to capitalize

A mere 35 hours after the conclusion of game 3, the two embattled franchises will clash yet again on short rest. Luka Doncic was under the weather in game 3, and with LeBron James on the other side of 40, a short turnaround feels favorable for the younger and deeper Timberwolves roster.

Minnesota needs to rally around the energy of its raucous arena and take it to the Lakers. Minnesota needs to continue wearing down its opponent with physicality and defense. On short rest, Anthony Edwards needs to capitalize on any Lakers mistakes to elevate his team.

Closing thoughts

This series is starting to feel like it is Minnesota against itself. They have mismatches they can take advantage of up and down the roster, while the Lakers resort to shot-making from their trio of playmakers. The Defense has been incredible from Minnesota all series, but the onus is on the Timberwolves to execute offensively.

The Timberwolves have to continue to put Luka in every action and penetrate the defense. You cannot settle for jumpshots when Luka or Austin Reaves is defending on the perimeter; you have to penetrate the defense and find the open man. If Minnesota executes, they will put an enormous burden on Luka Doncic and LeBron James to produce offense.

Let’s disrupt the narrative.