In a tough Game 4, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a close 116-113 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, putting them in a precarious 3-1 series deficit. The Lakers, at times, looked like the stronger team, but down the stretch, the Timberwolves executed when it mattered most. Luka Doncic had an impressive offensive showing, scoring 38 points on 13-for-28 shooting, but it wasn’t enough to avoid defeat.
Following the loss, Luka faced serious criticism from fans and analysts alike. A post from @ProvideContext highlighted two major issues with Doncic’s performance: his lack of conditioning and uncharacteristic errors at critical moments. Despite his evident skill and flashy playstyle, these flaws are damaging his potential to reach the highest level. The post specifically pointed out that his work ethic needs significant improvement.
Fans quickly rallied behind the post, with many expressing similar concerns. One fan tweeted, “Pray LeBron can get him right in the offseason bc realistically next year is prolly the last year he can contend as a 1B.” Another fan chimed in, pointing out that while Doncic’s scoring numbers were impressive, his style of play in the fourth quarter was a major issue. “People are gonna say he scored 38 points, but aside from being terrible on defense, this way of playing offense is also terrible. He didn’t give up the ball for 5 straight minutes in the 4th quarter, dribbling the air out of the ball while LeBron James is used like Trevor Ariza!”
Moreover, fans took issue with Doncic’s constant complaints during the game. One fan wrote, “He complains way too much too. Sometimes it seems like he wants a bailout foul call more than a bucket. Always comes at the worst times too.”
Now, Doncic and the Lakers are facing elimination in Game 5 on Wednesday night at 10 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on TNT, truTV, and Max, where the Lakers will look to stay alive in the series.
