LeBron James has issued a blunt warning to the Los Angeles Lakers after their disappointing 116-104 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of the NBA playoffs. With the Timberwolves now leading the series 2-1, the Lakers are on the brink of an early playoff exit. Despite a spectacular 38-point performance from the 40-year-old superstar, the Lakers couldn’t overcome a scorching Timberwolves team. The loss came on a night when Luka Doncic, the team’s mid-season acquisition, was battling illness.
After the game, James made it clear that the Lakers can’t afford any mistakes if they want to avoid an early playoff exit. “In the postseason, there is no room for error,” he stated emphatically. The Lakers’ struggles in Game 3 weren’t limited to just unforced errors; there were multiple factors contributing to the defeat, including Doncic’s condition.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick revealed that Doncic had been unwell for over 24 hours before the game. “Luka hasn’t been feeling well for the last 24 hours,” Redick explained. “He was vomiting all afternoon, and his sleep was impacted Thursday night leading into Game 3.” Despite this, James wasn’t using Doncic’s illness as an excuse.
Before the game, James had already made it clear that individual statistics wouldn’t make a difference if the team wasn’t winning. “There’s no moral victories in the postseason,” he said firmly. “It doesn’t matter what the stat sheet looks like. It’s about winning the game.”
With the series now hanging in the balance, James and the Lakers know they need to rally quickly or risk falling deeper into the hole.
