Magic Johnson takes swipe at Lakers' game plan in playoff loss to T'Wolves

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

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

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

Fatigue seemed to acceptable successful precocious successful the game. Doncic was getting implicit a tummy ailment arsenic helium and James played 46 minutes each. James was held scoreless successful the 4th quarter. The Lakers failed to support the T’Wolves astatine bay successful the 4th fourth contempt having a lead.

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

Johnson expressed his dismay connected X.

"I don’t cognize if it astute to play LeBron and Luka the full 2nd fractional aft lone having 1 time of remainder betwixt Games 3 and 4. When we needed LeBron to instrumentality implicit successful the 4th fourth helium couldn’t – helium scored 0 points successful the fourth," Johnson wrote.

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

Magic Johnson watches the Clemson Tigers and the Kansas Jayhawks successful the semifinals of the 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 the 2nd wasn’t thing that was planned.

"I asked them astatine the opening of the 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 origin astatine this juncture of the season.

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

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

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Game 5 is acceptable for Wednesday backmost successful Los Angeles.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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