All eyes were on the Los Angeles Lakers and JJ Redick as they entered Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Fans hoped for a game-changing performance to tie the series at 2-2. But what seemed like a turning point ended in disaster. The Lakers led early behind strong defense, but fatigue showed as the game wore on. Even LeBron James must have felt the sting of going scoreless in the fourth quarter! The team lost the close game with a score of 113-116, putting them on the brink of elimination with a 3-1 series deficit! But which decision truly turned the tide?

Head coach JJ Redick tried something different in this game, a bold move that had everyone talking. Redick dared to run only his starters all through a 24-minute stretch—a playoff first in decades. Redick knew the risk but hoped the core group could deliver. “We certainly played well enough to win, and we gave the effort to win,” Redick explained. Yet, as the game progressed, fatigue became evident. The gamble didn’t pay off.

Postgame, Magic Johnson ripped into Redick’s rotation gamble. He questioned, “I don’t know if it’s smart to play LeBron and Luka the entire second half after only having one day of rest between Games 3 and 4.” Magic went even further, pointing out how the gamble backfired when the Los Angeles Lakers needed their superstar most. “When we needed LeBron to take over in the fourth quarter, he couldn’t – he scored 0 points in the fourth,” he said. It was the kind of critique that echoed many fans’ frustrations.

In a viral Run It Back clip, Lou Williams nailed the root problem: bench depth. “JJ gambled in it and it didn’t go his way… now it’s rearing its head,” Williams said. He explained that the Lakers’ lack of bench depth had been a problem all year long. “They’re a team that is top-heavy,” Williams added, pointing out the struggles when the starters needed help. In his view, Redick had no choice but to risk it all with the players he trusted most.

Williams continued, pointing out how such a strategy could backfire. JJ Redick’s choice to keep the same five players on the floor allowed the Timberwolves to exploit the Lakers’ exhaustion in the final moments. Edwards, with a game-high 43 points, said, “I felt like they were gassed going down the stretch”. The fatigue buildup definitely played a significant role in the Timberwolves’ late-game surge. Despite the bold strategy, the Lakers couldn’t close it out. Now they are under immense pressure to keep hanging on to the playoffs!

“Fatigue no excuse,” says Luka, while Edwards ups the pressure

After the Lakers’ crushing Game 4 loss, emotions ran high, but there were no excuses from Luka Dončić. Despite logging nearly 46 exhausting minutes, the star guard insisted fatigue wasn’t to blame. “This is the playoffs. Fatigue shouldn’t play any role in this,” Luka said postgame. He pointed out Minnesota’s defensive execution, not tired legs, as the real turning point.

Luka, who scored a hard-earned 38 points, still believes the Lakers have life left. “It’s definitely disappointing, but nothing is lost. We haven’t lost anything yet. It’s first to four wins, and we just have to keep believing,” he reminded reporters, showing veteran poise. Even facing a daunting 3-1 deficit, Luka’s mindset remained focused on resilience rather than regret.

Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards showed a much different kind of energy on the court. From flexing at LeBron James to shoving him, Edwards made it personal. “I’m not gonna say I was trying to make a point, but just letting him know that we here,” Edwards explained. His mission was simple: disrupt the Lakers’ rhythm by getting physical with their leaders. And the Inside the NBA cast agrees that he managed to tire down LeBron!

Even though Edwards shares a bond with LeBron through Team USA, there were no friendships once the game tipped off. “He looked out for me. Helped me out a lot… So, just trying to be a pest to him out there,” Edwards said. With that fierce mindset, the Timberwolves star helped deliver a statement win that pushed the Lakers to the brink. Will they be able to achieve a victory in the upcoming game? Only time will tell.