{"id":57509,"date":"2025-04-30T12:34:01","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T12:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=57509"},"modified":"2025-04-30T12:34:01","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T12:34:01","slug":"report-lakers-make-desperate-move-for-game-5-vs-timberwolves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=57509","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: Lakers Make Desperate Move for Game 5 vs. Timberwolves"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"JJ<\/p>\n

Desperate times call for desperate measures.<\/p>\n

In a surprising move, the Los Angeles Lakers announced on Tuesday that center Maxi Kleber has been upgraded to questionable ahead of a critical Game 5 on Wednesday in Minnesota against the No. 6 seed Timberwolves.<\/p>\n

The Lakers are facing elimination after they blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead in Game 4 to trail 3-1 in the series.<\/p>\n

Minnesota has exploited Los Angeles\u2019s lack of size. Kleber, who hasn\u2019t played for the Lakers since he arrived from the\u00a0Luka Don\u010di\u0107\u00a0trade, could help them if he can play.<\/p>\n

In their 116-113 meltdown in Game 4, Lakers coach JJ Redick played a small-ball lineup composed of\u00a0LeBron James,\u00a0Dorian Finney-Smith,\u00a0Rui Hachimura, Don\u010di\u0107 and\u00a0Austin Reaves\u00a0for the entire second half.<\/p>\n

It was an unprecedented decision by Redick, which came under fire after the loss.<\/p>\n

\u201cI dont know if it smart to play LeBron and Luka the entire second half after only having one day of rest between Games 3 and 4,\u201d\u00a0Lakers legend Earvin \u201cMagic\u201d Johnson wrote on X. \u201cWhen we needed LeBron to take over in the fourth quarter he couldn\u2019t \u2013 he scored 0 points in the fourth.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

What Maxi Kleber Can Bring to the Table<\/h2>\n

The 6-foot-10, 240-pound Kleber can come in handy as a switchable defender.<\/p>\n

The 33-year-old German big man averaged 3.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 34 games this season for the Dallas Mavericks before he broke his right foot in January.<\/p>\n

Kleber is a 35.4% 3-point shooter in his career. But he was shooting only 25.4% from the 3-point line this season before his injury. The Lakers are hoping it\u2019s just an aberration and not the start of his decline.<\/p>\n

Kleber shot 34.8% from the 3-point line over the last two seasons and a career-high 41% during the 2020-21 season. His outside shot never dipped below 31.3% until this season.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Maxi Kleber Might Not Play After All<\/h2>\n

However, Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times tempered expectations of Kleber saving the Lakers\u2019 season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t really expect the Lakers to use Kleber in an elimination game after he\u2019s missed the past few months but good for him being in a position to be available after a serious surgery,\u201d\u00a0Woike wrote on X.<\/p>\n

But with their season on the line, everything is now on the table for the Lakers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would describe us as \u2018on edge\u2019, as we should be,\u201d\u00a0Redick said, per Mike Trudell of Spectrum. \u201cWe have to play with a sense of desperation.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

NBA Admits Blatant Missed Call in Game 4<\/h2>\n

The\u00a0NBA Last 2 Minute report\u00a0admitted a missed call in the closing moments.<\/p>\n

According to the Last 2 Minute report, there should have been a foul against Minnesota forward\u00a0Jaden McDaniels, who tripped Lakers star\u00a0Luka Don\u010di\u0107\u00a0with 35.5 seconds left.<\/p>\n

\u201cMcDaniels (MIN) steps forward into Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s (LAL) path, initiating illegal foot contact that causes him to lose his balance,\u201d the L2M report said.<\/p>\n

Had the foul been called, Don\u010di\u0107 would have shot two free throws while the Lakers were trailing 114-113. With the referees missing the call, Don\u010di\u0107 was forced to call one of the last two Lakers\u2019 timeouts.<\/p>\n

Worse, they had a turnover in the inbound play coming off that timeout, which preserved the Timberwolves\u2019 lead.<\/p>\n

However, there\u2019s no time to cry over spilled milk as the Last 2 Minute report will not bring back the Lakers\u2019 blown opportunity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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