Lakers coach J.J. Redick told reporters Tuesday that Wednesday’s Game 5 in Los Angeles is a “Game 7” for the Lakers. That’s true the rest of the way for the Lakers, who need to win three straight games to advance to the second round.
Redick described his team as “on edge, as we should be.”
The same has to be true for Minnesota.
“We’re not done,” Wolves forward Julius Randle said. “We know we need one more, and it’s going to take everything we have to get that next win.”
Minnesota has an obvious insurance policy should Wednesday not go as it hopes — Game 6 on Friday in Minneapolis. But allowing the series to continue is dangerous for a couple of reasons. No. 1, the Wolves eked out a pair of home wins over the weekend. Evidence from Games 3 and 4 suggests Los Angeles could win a Game 6 at Target Center.
Come Friday, much of the pressure would be on Minnesota.
No. 2, it’s to Minnesota’s benefit to close out the series as soon as possible. The Timberwolves had a commanding 2-0 lead over Denver in last year’s West semifinals. And while they ultimately dispatched the Nuggets, it required a grueling seven games to do so. Ultimately, that proved harmful, as players hinted at fatigue as a reason for their West Finals loss to Dallas.
Rest is a major reward for finishing off a series early. Golden State could potentially bounce the Rockets with a Game 5 win on Wednesday in Houston. The last thing the Wolves would want is to spot the aging Warriors a couple of extra days off.
Wolves guard Mike Conley also noted it “adds a little bit more confidence” to your team moving forward when you can put a team away in your first opportunity.
“When you look back and you say, ‘Hey, we should have won this game and that game, we wouldn’t have to have a Game 6 or 7,’ it puts a lot of stress on you, puts a lot of doubt in certain situations,” Conley said. “(We need to) have … a business approach, to every situation, and find ways to win and take care of business when we need to.
“We took care of our home court. That was our goal these last two games, and now our new goal is to win one in LA. So, can we be grown ups and go out there and figure out a way to do it? That just builds our confidence and builds our leadership throughout our team, and hopefully builds more winning.”
It will not be easy. Anthony Edwards said after Game 4 that the Wolves’ next contest is “going to be the toughest game that we’ve played all season.”
“Back against the wall in enemy territory. These are the moments that we should live for — going on the road and trying to close a team out,” Edwards said. “It’s going to be tough, going to be a tough atmosphere, but it should be fun. If you like competing at the highest level, I told (my teammates) it should be fun. Get your rest and be ready to go.”
While Minnesota did struggle to lay the hammer down on the Nuggets a season ago, it was 2-0 in potential closeout games, downing Phoenix in Game 4 of its first-round series and Denver in Game 7 of the West semis.
But Conley noted this one is against Luka Doncic and LeBron James, who he suspects will do everything in their power to survive.
“As hard as it was (in Game 4), it’s going to be even harder to get the next one, so we’re going to have to fight through a lot,” Randle said. “Like we have done all year, we’ve got to rely on each other, play for one another, and we genuinely feel like if we do that, we give ourselves the best chance to win every night. So, it’s going to take all of us.”
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