The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves on the brink of elimination, trailing the Minnesota Timberwolves 3-1 in their first-round playoff series. Despite holding a double-digit lead entering the fourth quarter of Game 4, the Lakers faltered down the stretch, ultimately losing 116-113.
LeBron James delivered a commendable performance with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Luka Dončić led the team with 38 points. However, the Lakers’ offense stagnated in the final quarter, shooting just 27.8% from the field in the fourth.
As the Lakers prepare for a must-win Game 5 at home on Wednesday night, the spotlight intensifies on James.
At 40 years old, James is no stranger to high-pressure situations. Notably, he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a historic comeback from a 3-1 deficit in the 2016 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.
Adding to the anticipation, former Lakers teammate Dwight Howard, who won a championship alongside James in the 2020 NBA bubble, took to social media to express his belief in the four-time MVP and mentioned what another comeback will mean to his legacy:
“If LeBron comes back from 3-1 at 40 I don’t wanna even hear about a GOAT debate,” Howard said.
At 40 years old, James has shown no signs of slowing down, finishing the regular season with 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists, while shooting 51.3% from the field. He is averaging 26.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in the playoffs so far (via StatMuse).
Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday, April 30, at 7:00 PM PDT in Los Angeles. The Lakers will need to harness their experience and resilience to extend the series and keep their championship aspirations alive.
