Timberwolves Knock Lakers Out Of Play-offs

The Los Angeles Lakers exited nan NBA play-offs astatine nan first hurdle arsenic nan Minnesota Timberwolves completed a 4-1 bid triumph pinch a 103-96 triumph successful crippled five.

The Lakers had been hoping to adjacent nan Boston Celtics' grounds pinch an 18th championship.

But they were beaten successful nan first information for a 2nd consecutive twelvemonth aft a ascendant show from Rudy Gobert, who registered 27 points and 24 rebounds for nan Timberwolves astatine Crypto.com Arena.

"It feels great," he said. "We had a play pinch ups and downs truthful to travel present and play nan measurement we did intends a lot.

"We conscionable person a bunch of guys that want to win, and a batch of guys who person been done adversity passim their profession and their life, and we emotion each other.

"All nan things we went done passim nan play prepared america for this moment."

Luka Doncic scored 28 points, Rui Hachimura 23 and LeBron James 22 for nan Lakers.

The Timberwolves will look nan Golden State Warriors aliases nan Houston Rockets successful nan Western Conference semi-finals.

The Rockets kept their play-off hopes live pinch a 131-116 triumph against nan Warriors successful crippled five, cutting their bid lead to 3-2.

Fred VanVleet scored 26 points for nan Rockets, while Amen Thompson added 25 and Dillon Brooks 24 astatine Toyota Center.

The Rockets led by 31 points astatine 1 stage, and Warriors coach Steve Kerr substituted galore of his starters successful nan 3rd 4th successful bid to support them caller for crippled six.

"We can't travel retired pinch that deficiency of protect attraction and power and expect to hit a awesome squad connected their location floor," said Kerr.

"They took it to america - they were awesome tonight."

Game six takes spot astatine 02:00 BST connected Saturday astatine Chase Center successful San Francisco.