Lakers on the Brink: Can They Rally at Home in Game 5?
The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves on the edge of elimination, trailing 3-1 in their first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. As the series shifts back to Crypto.com Arena for a critical Game 5, the pressure is mounting.
While the Lakers have benefited from strong offensive showings by their star duo, LeBron James and Luka Doncic, the rest of the roster has struggled to keep pace. James has been his usual dominant self, averaging 26.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. Doncic, meanwhile, has been pouring in 30.8 points per game, along with 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Despite their heroics, the lack of support from the bench and role players has been a glaring issue.
Head coach JJ Redick’s decision to play just five players in the second half of Game 4 raised eyebrows, especially considering the team was nearly at full strength. The lone absence was Maxi Kleber, who has yet to make his debut for Los Angeles after being acquired in the Doncic trade. Kleber has been recovering from foot surgery he underwent in late January.
There may be a glimmer of hope, though—Kleber has officially been upgraded to questionable for Game 5. Redick had previously mentioned that Kleber was a full participant in practice ahead of Game 1, signaling that his return might be near. Over his career, Kleber has averaged 6.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in about 22 minutes per game. He also shares some history with Redick, having played alongside him during their time with the Dallas Mavericks in the 2020-21 season.
As the Lakers fight to stay alive, all eyes will be on whether their supporting cast and potentially a returning Kleber can finally rise to the occasion.
Do you think the Lakers can force a Game 6?
