Lakers legend slams LeBron James for brutal collapse in Game 4 defeat vs. Timberwolves
The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a 116-113 defeat in Game 4 of their playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Anthony Edwards leading his team with 43 points. Despite a combined 65 points from Luka Dončić and LeBron James, James failed to score in the fourth quarter, contributing to the Lakers' loss. Magic Johnson criticized the decision to play James and Dončić for the entire second half, questioning James' lack of assertiveness when it was needed most. Although James ended the game with strong overall statistics, his inability to score in crucial moments was a focal point of criticism. With the Lakers now trailing 3-1 in the series, James' role as a scoring leader is seen as essential for any potential comeback against the Timberwolves.
The Lakers lost a tight Game 4 to the Timberwolves with a score of 116-113, giving Minnesota a 3-1 lead in the series, largely due to Anthony Edwards' impressive 43-point performance.
LeBron James and Luka Dončić combined for 65 points on 48.6% shooting, but James failed to contribute any points in the final quarter, missing both of his field goal attempts.
Magic Johnson publicly criticized the coaching decision to play James and Dončić for the entire second half, especially given the short rest between games, and highlighted James' failure to take charge in the fourth quarter.
James' game statistics were otherwise impressive, with 27 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, three steals, and three blocks, but his lack of scoring in critical moments overshadowed these achievements.
The Lakers are now faced with the challenge of overcoming a 3-1 series deficit, necessitating James to step up as a decisive scoring threat to fuel any comeback efforts against the Timberwolves.
The Los Angeles Lakers were handed a deflating 116-113 loss in Game 4 of their first-round playoff matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, as Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards scored a game-high 43 points to give his team a 3-1 advantage in the series.
Los Angeles’ generational duo of Luka Dončić and LeBron James combined for 65 points on 48.6% shooting from the field, though the latter of the pair notably contributed nothing of value from a scoring perspective following the conclusion of the third quarter.
The 4-time NBA champion did not register a single point in the final frame of Game 4, coming away empty on both of his two total field goal attempts in the last 12 minutes of the contest.
As a result of his disappointing fourth-quarter effort, former 5-time NBA champion and all-time great Lakers point guard Magic Johnson took to social media to air his grievances with James’ subpar late-game performance.
“I don't know if it (was) smart to play LeBron and Luka the entire second half after only having one day of rest between Games 3 and 4,” Johnson shared via Twitter/X on Sunday night.
“When we needed LeBron to take over in the fourth quarter he couldn’t - he scored 0 points in the fourth.”
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The 40-year-old future Hall-of-Fame inductee James finished the night with sensational box score figures of 27 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, three steals and three blocks, but his passive mentality in clutch time ultimately had a hand in Los Angeles’ massively important loss.
Though Johnson’s claim to fame throughout his illustrious career with the Lakers was his unbelievable passing ability, the 3-time league MVP, Finals MVP and flashy floor general was quick to offer his perspective on James’ inability to put the ball in the hoop in the late stages of Game 4 against Minnesota.
With Los Angeles now looking to pull off an improbable 3-1 comeback against Edwards’ surging Timberwolves, James’ assertiveness as an on-ball scoring threat would likely have to be the driving force behind any miraculous run.