LOS ANGELES — For the second time in as many seasons, Minnesota has won a playoff series. And it did so again by taking down one of the game’s titans.

A year after unceremoniously bouncing Kevin Durant and his Phoenix team in four games, the Wolves dispatched LeBron James and the Lakers in five, winning Game 5 103-96 in Los Angeles on Wednesday to secure a 4-1 series victory.

And they have Rudy Gobert to thank for it.

“It feels good,” Gobert said. “… But it’s about winning. Two points, six points, it’s about winning.”

After playing a marginal role in the series through four games — and not being on the floor to close either Game 3 or Game 4 — Gobert exploded for 27 points and 24 rebounds, both career highs.

It was all necessary on a night where Minnesota couldn’t buy an outside shot. The Wolves were biblically bad from 3-point range.

The Wolves went 7 for 47 from distance Wednesday. Anthony Edwards went just 5 for 19 from the field.

Luka Doncic suffered a back injury on a drive to the bucket with 1 minute to play in the second quarter. He left the game immediately after shooting the free throws, only to return with apparent limited mobility to open the third.

“Over the course of the season, I felt it was getting harder and harder for them to keep me off the boards,” Gobert said.

But Doncic went on to explode in that frame, scoring 14 points to breathe life back into the Lakers. Los Angeles even took the lead at one point in the quarter.

Yet Minnesota was able to endure it all. Because Gobert even countered the Doncic tidal wave in the third with a nine-point, eight-rebound quarter. In the final frame, Gobert and Julius Randle took turns simply bullying the Lakers on the interior.

Randle finished with 23 points.

In the end, the Wolves were simply too big, too fast and too strong for the Lakers, and they sent them home in five games because of it.

Minnesota will play either Houston or Golden State in the Western Conference semifinals. The start date of that series is to be determined.

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What’s the best headlamp?

A reliable headlamp is a useful multipurpose tool you can use in various situations, from outdoor activities to home repair. Unlike traditional flashlights, headlamps eliminate the need to use your hands, giving you more freedom during tasks.

Headlamps are available in numerous sizes, styles and power sources to suit your needs. Top headlamps, like the PETZL Actik Core Headlamp, are lightweight, powerful and sport a variety of convenient features.

What to know before you buy a headlamp

Headlamp uses

While there isn’t an absolute limit to the practical use of a headlamp, here are a few of the most popular services:

Hiking and camping
Nighttime running and walking
Cycling
Spelunking
Car maintenance and repair
Home repair
Working on hobbies
Reading at night
As a backup emergency light

Lumen rating

Its lumen rating determines the total brightness of your headlamp. Headlamp lumens can range from approximately 15 to 1000 or more.

Lower lumen ratings, up to 100, are ideal for camping in a tent at night or for situations where you don’t necessarily need an intense beam of light.

Headlamps with lumen ratings up to 300 are great midrange options that work well for nighttime hiking, walking in dark areas and working on home repairs.

Models with a max lumen rating greater than 300 will offer superior brightness, which can be helpful for cyclists or those who need a larger field of vision. However, the higher the lumens, the more energy your headlamp will use, often decreasing battery life.

Beam

The beam type and beam distance will also play a role in the total brightness you can achieve. Many headlamps feature different beam settings, which include flood and spotlights.

Floodlights offer a broader and less focused lighting area, which is best for up-close work. Spotlights provide a narrower beam of light that is better for seeing long distances. Most headlamps will state their maximum beam distance.

Power source

The two primary power sources for headlamps are rechargeable batteries and disposable batteries (lithium or alkaline). You can easily use a USB charger for rechargeable batteries, which will save you money in the long run. Headlamps that run on disposable batteries will require you to replace the batteries, so you will need to carry spares.

What to look for in a quality headlamp

Light modes

Having a variety of light and brightness settings can come in handy for different situations. Low, medium and high beam settings are standard on many headlamp models. Still, some options will also include a red light setting, which produces less of a blinding effect for others, and strobe effects for emergency signaling.

Adjustability

Having adjustable light settings is essential, but the ability to reposition the headlamps is also critical, as it allows you to adjust the beam angle to your precise needs.

Durability

Many people use their headlamps outdoors in a wide range of weather and temperature conditions. Choosing a headlamp with both impact resistance and water resistance will ensure that your light won’t quit when you need it most.

Weight and comfort

Considering that you’ll be wearing this piece of equipment for prolonged periods occasionally, both weight and comfort are crucial. Runners and hikers will benefit from a lightweight headlamp, so it doesn’t weigh them down. Make sure the strap isn’t too abrasive or uncomfortable when positioned around your head.

How much you can expect to spend on a headlamp

You can find a decent headlamp for under $30, but most will cost somewhere $35-$120.

Headlamp FAQ

How long do headlamp batteries last?

A. While there is no exact battery life span that applies to all headlamps, many models will state their max burn time. Headlamps used on low settings will generally have a much longer burn time than when used at their max settings for extended periods.

Will sweating while wearing my headlamp damage it?

A. In most cases, no. A majority of headlamps can withstand some moisture. If you know you’ll be doing intense exercise with your headlamp, look for a water-resistant model, ideally with an IPX rating of 4 or higher.

What’s the best headlamp to buy?

Top headlamp

PETZL Actik Core Headlamp

What you need to know: This is a durable, long-lasting headlight with a rechargeable battery and 350-lumen brightness.

What you’ll love: It features several different light modes and a reflective band for extra visibility.

What you should consider: Using the max brightness setting can quickly drain the battery.

Top headlamp for the money

BLACK DIAMOND Astro 300 LED Headlamp

What you need to know: The Astro 300 Headlamp is a budget-friendly option that is perfect for on-the-go adventurers.

What you’ll love: The 300 lumens are powered by a trio of AAA batteries, and the comfortable head strap is fully adjustable.

What you should consider: This headlamp can consume the batteries quickly.

Worth checking out

BioLite HeadLamp 325

What you need to know: BioLite has created a sturdy, lightweight and comfortable headlamp that won’t slide around on your head.

What you’ll love: With up to 40 hours of burn time per charge, and high lumen output, this option will have you prepared for any situation.

What you should consider: It is not fully waterproof.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Lee Stecklein scored twice as the Minnesota Frost staved off elimination and put the Ottawa Charge’s playoff hopes on ice with a 3-0 win Wednesday night.

The Charge needed just one point to secure their first playoff appearance. Ottawa earning the single point would have ended the defending champion Frost’s playoff chances.

It will come down to the final regular season games Saturday.

Ottawa will need a regulation win or overtime win against the Toronto Sceptres on Saturday, or Minnesota to lose its final game against Boston on Saturday in order to clinch a playoff berth. The Charge hold the tiebreaker should the two teams be tied in points.

Leading 1-0, the Frost extended their lead at 5:38 of the third period when Stecklein beat Gwyneth Philips with a wrister from the point. Stecklein added an empty-net goal with 34 seconds remaining for her second goal of the season.

Philips, who stopped 30 shots, and Nicole Hensley, who had a 24-save shutout, were solid in the second with both making a number of big saves.

The Charge got into penalty trouble late in the period, but Philips was able to hold the Frost off. With 1:17 remaining in the second Kendall Coyne Schofield beat Philips through the legs on a partial-screen to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead.

The Charge failed to capitalize on the power play going 0-for-3.

Stecklein’s first goal on a point shot in the third provided the Frost some much-needed insurance.

The regular season wraps up Saturday with the Frost at Boston and the Charge at Toronto.

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CLEVELAND — Pablo López threw 89 pitches on Wednesday, but it was the last ball to leave his hand that the starting pitcher would like back the most.

Locked in a scoreless game, López fielded a slow tapper and slung the ball well past first baseman Ty France, allowing Guardians star José Ramírez to score all the way from second. That play ended Lopez’s night.

The inning further unraveled when 39-year-old Carlos Santana took off from first and catcher Ryan Jeffers’ attempted throw to second hit reliever Brock Stewart on his non-throwing elbow. Santana advanced to third on a wild pitch and, after a walk to Gabriel Arias, Bo Naylor launched a three-run home run to put the Twins in a 4-0 hole.

The Twins added a couple of late runs Wednesday but fell, 4-2, at Progressive Field, in a game that got away after six innings of a pitchers’ duel.

López cruised through the first six innings, allowing just two hits, a pair of doubles to batters he stranded. He had little run support to speak of, though, because while López was dealing for the Twins, so, too, was Guardians starter Luis Ortiz.

Trevor Larnach got the only Twins hit through the first five innings and he was quickly wiped off the basepaths by a double play.

Byron Buxton, who hit an infield single and advanced to third on a stolen base — the 100th of his career — and error, represented the Twins’ first runner in scoring position, and that didn’t happen until the sixth.

The Twins, who scored just a lone run a day earlier, got on the board in the eighth with a solo home run from Brooks Lee. They scored a run an inning later, too, off Cleveland closer Emmanuel Close, but that was the closest they’d get.

Cleveland Guardians’ Jose Ramirez, right, scores as Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers takes the throw in the seventh inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Minnesota Twins’ Carlos Correa lies on the ground after falling over while backing away from a pitch in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)