Image Source: X
[Saba Sports News] The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, and head coach JJ Redick had strong words for the officiating crew afterward.
In Game 4 of their first-round playoff series at Target Center in Minneapolis, the Lakers squandered a double-digit fourth-quarter lead, ultimately falling 116-113 to the Timberwolves. They now trail the best-of-seven series 3-1.
A key moment late in the game drew major scrutiny from the Lakers’ side. With 35 seconds remaining and Minnesota up 114-113, Luka Doncic was bringing the ball up the court when Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels applied intense backcourt pressure.
Doncic stumbled and was forced to call timeout. On the ensuing possession, LeBron James threw away the inbounds pass, and the Lakers never scored again.
Despite that, Redick was livid after the game. Speaking to reporters, he called it a “blatant” missed foul.
“Luka got tripped,” said Redick. “That was a blatant trip. He doesn’t just fall on his own. We watched it — he gets tripped.
So we should have been at the free-throw line. That’s not an excuse for why we lost. But he got fouled.”
Doncic echoed Redick’s frustration, telling reporters he believed he was “for sure” tripped on the play.
The Lakers were already in the bonus, meaning a foul call would have sent Doncic to the line for two free throws with a chance to take the lead. While there’s no certainty Los Angeles would have closed out the game, Redick clearly felt the no-call put his team at a significant disadvantage.
The loss also overshadowed a gutsy performance from Doncic, who rebounded from a Game 3 illness to drop 38 points, including five three-pointers, in the Game 4 defeat.