The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves staring elimination in the face following their loss in Game 3, despite being ahead by 10 points entering the game's final frame.
With the Purple and Gold trailing the Minnesota Timberwolves, 104-103, Luka Doncic took it upon himself to try and make a play to put his team back out in front with just over 30 seconds left. The Lakers' All-Star point guard was ultimately tripped up by Timberwolves defender Jaden McDaniels, but no whistle followed.
"McDaniels (MIN) steps forward into Doncic's (LAL) path, initiating illegal foot contact that causes him to lose his balance," the NBA said Monday in its Last Two Minute Report on the Timberwolves-Lakers game. The NBA releases those reports when the margin is three points or less at any time in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime.
Doncic put it more directly. "I got tripped, for sure," he said.
This proved to be the straw that broke the camel's back as Minnesota went on to take the all-important Game 4 and move one step closer to the second round. Now, Luka, LeBron James and the rest of the Lakers' roster must come together and win three straight games in order to advance out of the first round. A tough task if there was ever one asked of the Lakers.
All hope is not lost, however, despite the gargantuan pressure facing Los Angeles entering Game 5 at Crypto.com Arena, as we have seen teams overcome a 3-1 series deficit before. In fact, James is more familiar with this feat given his famous 3-1 comeback in the NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It isn't going to be easy, but this Lakers team is far from done at this point in time. All it takes is one victory for momentum to shift back your way in a best-of-seven series.
We'll find out whether or not the referees are more generous with the calls they make in a big-time game atmosphere when these two sides meet again in Los Angeles on Wednesday.