The Los Angeles Lakers' season ended abruptly with a 103-96 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the playoffs. The Lakers fell behind early, fighting back to close the gap but ultimately couldn't capitalize on the Timberwolves' subpar shooting performance. Despite Anthony Edwards' struggles and Minnesota's poor shooting stats, L.A. was out-rebounded significantly and given second-chance opportunities that led to their defeat.

Rui Hachimura stood out offensively for the Lakers, scoring 23 points, while Luka Doncic contributed 28 points but struggled on defense. LeBron James had a decent game but faltered in crucial moments, as did Austin Reaves, whose performance was lackluster throughout the series. The Lakers' inability to secure rebounds and capitalize on scoring opportunities led to their disappointing exit from the playoffs, falling short of expectations after acquiring Doncic prior to the season.