The star team from California lost with 113–116 away against Minnesota Timberwolves in Sunday's fourth match in the best of seven in the first playoff round, equivalent to the eighth final. Lakers are thus behind 1–3 in the match series and are pressed to win three in a row, next on home ground early Thursday morning Swedish time, to avoid being eliminated.
We haven't lost anything yet. It's first to four wins, says Luka Doncic.
The 26-year-old Slovenian star, who was traded from Dallas Mavericks in February, was the top scorer in Lakers, 38 points. Together with the 40-year-old American LeBron James, 27 points, the duo played 46 of the match's 48 minutes.
LA Lakers last won the NBA championship in 2020 but have not reached the final since then. After being eliminated in the first playoff round last year, against Denver Nuggets with 1–4 in matches, the expectations are higher this year after the team won its division in the regular season.
