Game 4 of the first-round playoff series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers was nothing short of spectacular. The Timberwolves secured a nail-biting 116-113 victory, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead. However, the game will be remembered not just for its thrilling finish but also for Lakers head coach JJ Redick’s unconventional decision to play his five second-half starters for the entire 24 minutes—a move that ultimately backfired.
The Lakers entered the second half trailing 61-58, and Redick, in his first year as head coach, made a bold call. Opting to stick with LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Dorian Finney-Smith for the entire second half, Redick hoped to ride his stars to victory. The strategy initially paid off, as the Lakers opened the third quarter with a 14-0 run, building a 12-point lead heading into the final period.
However, fatigue began to take its toll in the fourth quarter. James and Dončić, who played a staggering 46 minutes, struggled to maintain their usual level of play. The Timberwolves capitalized on the Lakers’ waning energy, with Anthony Edwards delivering a masterful fourth-quarter performance. Edwards scored 16 of his 43 points in the final frame, including a clutch step-back three-pointer and a no-look assist to Jaden McDaniels for the go-ahead and-one with just 39 seconds remaining.
While the Lakers relied heavily on their starters, Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch employed a more balanced rotation. Bench players like Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo provided crucial contributions, combining for 20 points and hitting key shots down the stretch. The Timberwolves’ depth and fresher legs proved to be the difference in the closing minutes.
Edwards, supported by Julius Randle’s 25 points and McDaniels’ 16, led the Timberwolves to a hard-fought victory.
Redick’s decision to forgo substitutions in the second half made history, as it marked the first time in the play-by-play era (since 1996-97) that a coach played the same five players for an entire half in a playoff game. While the move was a gamble, it left the Lakers visibly drained in the final minutes, raising questions about the team’s rotation strategy moving forward.
As the series shifts back to Los Angeles for Game 5, the Lakers face a do-or-die situation. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves are just one win away from advancing to the next round, riding high on the momentum of their Game 4 triumph.
