Rudy Gobert Silences Doubters with Career Night as Timberwolves Eliminate Lakers from NBA Playoffs
The Minnesota Timberwolves are heading to the Western Conference Semifinals, and Rudy Gobert made sure the Los Angeles Lakers wouldn’t stand in their way. The French big man delivered a dominant playoff performance, notching two career postseason highs — 27 points and 24 rebounds — to lead Minnesota to a 103-96 Game 5 win, sealing the series 4-1.
This victory marks back-to-back first-round playoff series wins for the Timberwolves — the first time in franchise history.
Gobert Delivers When It Matters Most
Gobert’s outburst came as a surprise to many. In the first four games of the series, he hadn’t scored more than six points. But in Game 5, the veteran center flipped the script, leading his team in scoring and dominating the glass.
Despite the Timberwolves’ shooting struggles throughout the game, Gobert’s physicality and consistency made the difference.
“We didn’t shoot the ball well, but I thought we were the tougher team mentally and physically,” said Minnesota head coach Chris Finch after the win.
Finch, addressing the outside criticism Gobert often faces, didn’t hold back.
“Rudy’s a winner at the highest level. He drives winning. You can not like who he is, how he does it, what he looks like, etc. But when you have this guy on your team, you understand what a professional and a winner is,” Finch said.
“No one’s happier for Rudy than his teammates right now. Particularly, Anthony [Edwards] let everybody know it was Rudy’s night — and nobody was stopping him.”
Bill Belichick Defends Girlfriend Jordon Hudson After Viral CBS Interview
Edwards Keeps Focus Despite Quiet Night
Though not his most explosive game, Anthony Edwards still made a strong all-around impact, contributing 15 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals. More importantly, he acknowledged the significance of knocking off LeBron James and the Lakers.
“It means a lot. I mean, we beat the best player in the world — the best player ever,” Edwards said post-game.
LeBron Reflects on Season and Future
At 40 years old, LeBron James remains a formidable force, finishing with 22 points in what could be his final playoff appearance. After the game, James admitted the loss stung and cast uncertainty over his future in the NBA.
“Since my first NBA Finals in 2007, any season that didn’t end in a championship has felt like a disappointment,” he reflected.
Asked whether this was his final NBA season, he said: “I don’t know. I don’t have the answer to that. I’ll sit down with my family and have a conversation with myself. I don’t know the answer to that right now, to be honest.”
What’s Next for Minnesota?
The Timberwolves now await the winner of the Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors series. The Warriors currently lead 3-2 and could close it out in Game 6 at home on Friday night.
For now, though, the spotlight belongs to Rudy Gobert — a player long questioned for his postseason limitations, who responded with the best playoff performance of his career when it mattered most.
Thanks for visiting Best Breaking News
