Magic Johnson Takes Swipe At Lakers' Game Plan In Playoff Loss To T'wolves

Los Angeles Lakers fable Magic Johnson criticized nan team’s fourth-quarter crippled scheme arsenic they fell down 3-1 successful their opening information playoff bid against nan Minnesota Timberwolves.

Lakers coach J.J. Redick was seemingly inspired by nan 14-0 tally to commencement nan 3rd 4th and kept nan lineup – LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Dorian Finney-Smith – connected nan level for nan remainder of nan game.

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Los Angeles Lakers caput coach J.J. Redick reacts to his squad losing nan lead to nan Minnesota Timberwolves during nan NBA Playoffs astatine Target Center successful Minneapolis connected April 27, 2025. (Matt Blewett-Imagn Images)

Fatigue seemed to group successful precocious successful nan game. Doncic was getting complete a tummy ailment arsenic he and James played 46 minutes each. James was held scoreless successful nan 4th quarter. The Lakers grounded to support nan T’Wolves astatine bay successful nan 4th fourth contempt having a lead.

Minnesota won nan game, 116-113. They’ve outscored nan Lakers 105-69 successful nan 4th fourth complete nan people of nan series.

Johnson expressed his dismay connected X.

"I don’t cognize if it smart to play LeBron and Luka nan full 2nd half aft only having 1 time of remainder betwixt Games 3 and 4. When we needed LeBron to return complete successful nan 4th fourth he couldn’t – he scored 0 points successful nan fourth," Johnson wrote.

"I’m conscionable sick to my tummy that nan Lakers mislaid this crippled aft being successful power astir of nan 2nd half."

Magic Johnson watches nan Clemson Tigers and nan Kansas Jayhawks successful nan semifinals of nan NCAA Tournament astatine CenturyLink Center successful Omaha, Nebraska, March 23, 2018. (Kyle Terada-USA Today Sports)

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Redick explained his lineup determination successful nan 2nd wasn’t thing that was planned.

"I asked them astatine nan opening of nan 4th fourth [how they were doing] and told them we had 2 other timeouts," Redick said, via ESPN. "’If you request a sub, fto america know.’ Those guys gave a lot."

Doncic said fatigue shouldn’t person been a facet astatine this juncture of nan season.

"Fatigue shouldn't play immoderate domiciled successful this," Doncic added. "I played a batch of minutes, but that shouldn't play a role. I deliberation they conscionable executed amended connected nan violative extremity during nan past minutes."

Los Angeles Lakers guardant LeBron James reacts to a replay that confirms he fouled Minnesota Timberwolves defender Anthony Edwards during nan NBA Playoffs astatine Target Center successful Minneapolis, April 27, 2025. (Matt Blewett-Imagn Images)

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Game 5 is group for Wednesday backmost successful Los Angeles.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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