JJ Redick Reveals Real Reason Lakers Lost To Timberwolves
JJ Redick Reveals Real Reason Lakers Lost To Timberwolves
JJ Redick didn’t hold back after the Los Angeles Lakers’ Game 4 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 27, 2025. The Timberwolves pulled out a 116-113 win and grabbed a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.
The biggest flashpoint came with just 35 seconds left and Minnesota ahead by a single point, 114-113. Lakers guard Luka Doncic fell while bringing the ball up against Jaden McDaniels, and the Lakers had to burn a timeout.
Right after, on the inbound, LeBron James turned the ball over. That pretty much sealed it for the Timberwolves.
“Luka got tripped. That was a blatant trip,” Redick said in the postgame scrum. “He doesn’t just fall on his own. We watched it, and he gets tripped.”
JJ Redick calls out the refs
“Luka got tripped. That was a blatant trip. He doesn’t just fall on his own. We should have been at the free throw line. He got fouled”
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24 )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 27, 2025
Redick pointed out the Lakers were in the bonus, so a foul would’ve sent Doncic to the line. He admitted it wasn’t the only reason they lost, but you could tell he thought the missed call was a big deal.
Doncic agreed with his coach, telling reporters he was “for sure” tripped on that play. Even after being sick last game, he still dropped 38 points and hit five threes.
The whole thing went down at Target Center in Minneapolis. The Lakers had actually built up a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter before the Timberwolves stormed back.
Replays showed some contact between McDaniels and Doncic—though honestly, it almost looked like Doncic might’ve just stepped on McDaniels’ foot. Was it intentional? Tough to say.
If the refs had called a foul, Doncic would have had two free throws and a shot to put the Lakers on top. Instead, the Timberwolves hung on and now have the Lakers on the ropes in the Western Conference playoffs.
This incident just adds fuel to a series that’s already been way more physical and heated than anyone expected. The Lakers, down 3-1, head back to Los Angeles for Game 5, hoping to keep their season alive.
Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.
