MILWAUKEE & MINNEAPOLIS — Sunday night brought a mix of heartbreak and heroics in the NBA Playoffs, with the Milwaukee Bucks losing Damian Lillard to injury early in Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers, while the Minnesota Timberwolves surged to a dramatic comeback over the Los Angeles Lakers behind a dominant Anthony Edwards performance.
In Milwaukee, the Bucks’ hopes took a serious hit just minutes into their game when star guard Damian Lillard went down with a left lower leg injury. The injury occurred midway through the first quarter as Lillard attempted to chase down an offensive rebound. After a brief struggle on the ground and an attempt to stand, he exited the court with assistance, putting no weight on his left leg. The team later ruled him out for the rest of the game.
This latest injury is especially concerning given Lillard’s recent return from deep vein thrombosis in his right leg, which had sidelined him for the final 14 regular-season games. Though he returned for Game 2 against Indiana, Lillard had yet to find his rhythm, averaging just 10.5 points on 24% shooting through the first two games. In Game 4, he missed both of his shot attempts before exiting. The Bucks now trail the series 2-1.
Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, Anthony Edwards delivered one of the standout performances of the postseason. With the Timberwolves trailing by 10 in the fourth quarter, Edwards erupted for 16 of his 43 points in the final frame to lead Minnesota to a 116-113 win and a commanding 3-1 lead in their first-round series.
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I felt like they were gassed,” Edwards said of the Lakers’ five-man rotation, which played the entire second half without a substitution. “So just trying to keep my foot on the pedal and keep going.”
The Lakers, behind LeBron James and Luka Doncic, had dominated the third quarter with a 14-0 run and took control heading into the fourth. But fatigue began to show. James finished with 27 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, and more, but he was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. Doncic added 38 points but managed only seven in the final period.
Coach JJ Redick acknowledged the unusual decision to stick with the same five players in the second half wasn’t premeditated, noting he had told his players to let him know if they needed a sub. “Those guys gave a lot,” he said. It marked the first time since at least 1998 that a team played an entire half of a playoff game with just five players, per Elias Sports Bureau.
In a tight finish, the Lakers felt the officiating didn’t go their way. Doncic claimed he was tripped in the backcourt before calling timeout with 33 seconds remaining. Moments later, James turned the ball over on a sideline inbounds play, attempting to avoid an eight-second violation.
The Timberwolves then benefited from a crucial replay review. Initially called out of bounds on Edwards, the play was overturned to a foul on James after a challenge by Wolves coach Chris Finch. Edwards, who confirmed the foul postgame, hit both free throws to seal the win.
Austin Reaves had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer but missed a corner three. Game 5 heads back to Los Angeles on Wednesday, with the Lakers facing elimination.
“We’re going to get one,” Lakers forward Rui Hachimura said confidently postgame.
