It’s Wednesday night. Fans are settling into their seats at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. For Minnesota, victory is so close they can taste it. The Timberwolves are on the brink of eliminating the Lakers on their home court, a feat that would send shockwaves through the NBA.
After a season of grit, growth, and greatness, Minnesota holds the hammer in this playoff battle, and tonight, it’s time to slam it down. This isn’t just about moving on. It’s about making a statement. The Timberwolves aren’t a Cinderella story. They’re not a fluke. They’re for real. And now, it’s time to show the world that the pack runs the West.
Here’s what the Wolves must do to finish it on the road:
1. Let the fearsome 4 lead the way
This Timberwolves squad isn’t just deep it’s dangerous. And it starts with the Fearsome 4:
Anthony Edwards is the firestarter. Confident, relentless, and playing like a superstar. He’s been slicing up LA's defense throughout the series and is ready to put on another primetime show.
Rudy Gobert must be the anchor. The (4X) Defensive Player of the Year has made life miserable for any Laker trying to score in the paint. Tonight, he needs to own the glass and shut down second-chance opportunities.
Julius Randle must be the enforcer. With his physicality, scoring versatility, and playoff swagger, he’s added a whole new dimension to this Wolves team. When he gets going, defenders bounce off him, and so does momentum.
Jaden McDaniels? He’s the unsung assassin. The defensive tone-setter. The Luka and LeBron nightmare. Whether chasing shooters, hounding ball-handlers, or making big plays in transition, he’s the glue that holds it all together.
If those four are locked in, there’s no stopping this team... Everything else will fall into place.
2. Make Luka & LeBron earn everything
The Lakers’ hopes rest on the shoulders of Luka Dončić and LeBron James, two of the most gifted players on Earth. But the Wolves don’t fear names, they fear this series extending longer than necessary.
Jaden McDaniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker must continue making Luka uncomfortable. Push him out of his sweet spots. Body him on drives. Limit the stepbacks and force contested kick-outs.
LeBron is still capable of nuclear nights, but if the Wolves make him work every second, fatigue will catch up. Chase him off the three-point line, close off fast breaks, and make him settle for tough jumpers.
Keep those two in check, and the Lakers’ offense collapses, as we have seen time and time again.
3. Dominate the paint, own the boards
Gobert, Randle, and Naz Reid have been controlling the interior, and it’s time to keep the pressure on. No easy lobs. No tip-ins. Force LA to beat you from outside, where they’ve been shaky all series.
Crash the glass like it’s Game 7... because for the Lakers, it is. Limit second chances. Turn defense into offense. That’s the Wolves’ recipe for success.
4. Smell blood. Strike first. End it.
The Lakers will come out swinging, as every team on the brink of elimination will. But the Wolves have to swing harder. Set the tone in the first five minutes. Bring playoff-level physicality. Force the Lakers to question themselves & fast.
This is not the time to play safe. It’s time to finish with force.
5. Fuel the fire with bench energy
What separates contenders from champions? Depth. And the Timberwolves bench is bringing that wild, unrelenting energy every single night.
Whether it’s Naz Reid flying in for a putback, Nickeil Alexander-Walker picking pockets, or Donte DiVincenzo slowing things down with surgical precision, the Wolves’ second unit has been a sparkplug and an emotional engine. They celebrate every bucket like it’s a buzzer-beater. They talk on defense. They lift the starters. They set the tone just as much as anyone in the starting five.
This is more than a rotation. This is a brotherhood. And tonight, on the road, that energy will be contagious.
From the moment the bench stands up on a made three or rallies during a defensive stop, the message will be clear:
We’re not just here to win, we’re here to break you. Oh and of course how can i forget to mention this one last thing for shannon sharpe and the rest of the Lakers Fandom.
Wolves in 5.