While any team on the brink of elimination will face issues, having a star that loves the challenge can make things easier.
On Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers let a golden opportunity to tie their first-round series slip away, as the Minnesota Timberwolves secured a 3-1 lead. As the series shifts back to Los Angeles for Game 5, the Lakers need to play at their best to keep their season alive.
In Game 4, Lakers coach JJ Redick opted to play only five players throughout the entire second half, marking the first time that has occurred in the play-by-play era. Despite playing the team’s best five-man lineup for all 24 minutes, it still wasn’t enough to even the series.
After a rough Game 3 performance where he was struggling with an illness, Luka Doncic responded with a solid Game 4. The former Maverick put up 38 points to lead the Lakers in scoring, but he didn’t quite have enough in the tank to get his team a victory.
With the series and season in the balance, Doncic is unfazed by the tough road ahead.
“It’s a fun challenge,” Doncic said.
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Although many would see nothing fun about facing a 3-1 deficit in the first round, Doncic’s mindset could be critical to the Lakers’ hopes of winning this series. Although Los Angeles is in a tough position, it still has some star power to give it hope.
Despite how great Doncic and LeBron James can be, overcoming a 3-1 deficit is among the toughest feats in the sport. The last time a team came back from a 3-1 hole was in the 2020 bubble when the Denver Nuggets beat the LA Clippers.
Although history and the way this series is trending aren’t on the Lakers’ side, they do have Doncic on their side, which might just be enough.
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